BADUNG, DEWATA.NEWS – Indonesian immigration authorities at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport prevented three Iraqi nationals from entering Bali after they attempted to use falsified Belgian passports.
The individuals, identified as members of the same family, arrived in Bali on Saturday (February 28, 2026) at 9:50 p.m. WITA on Emirates flight EK368 from Dubai. Officers at the Immigration Checkpoint (TPI) of the Ngurah Rai Special Class I Immigration Office detected irregularities during routine passenger profiling at the inspection counter.
Further examination was conducted at the Immigration Forensic Laboratory, where officials confirmed that the Belgian passports presented by the Iraqi nationals were counterfeit.
The three foreign nationals were subsequently handed over to the Immigration Intelligence and Enforcement Division (Inteldakim) of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office. Authorities also conducted checks through the central immigration database system and international security networks. The individuals were not listed on Indonesia’s immigration watchlist nor on Interpol’s HIT list.
After completing administrative procedures and immigration enforcement measures, the three Iraqi nationals were officially deported from Indonesia on Monday (March 2, 2026) at 9:05 p.m. WITA. They departed from Ngurah Rai International Airport on flight AK375 bound for Kuala Lumpur.
Head of the Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Bugie Kurniawan, said the case highlights the potential for shifting global migration patterns amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
“This situation could very likely occur in the future as part of a large-scale exodus of foreign nationals from conflict areas in the Middle East seeking entry into countries considered safe, using various methods,” Bugie explained.
Given that the violators were a family consisting of a woman and a toddler, immigration authorities stated that the handling process was carried out in a humane manner. Officials ensured that all examination and enforcement procedures were conducted in accordance with human rights principles, including the fulfillment of basic needs and comfort for the child and mother during the inspection process.
The case underscores continued vigilance by Indonesian immigration authorities in monitoring international arrivals at Bali’s main gateway, particularly as the island remains a major international tourism destination.