Tourists could spend up to 20 years in a Bali prison cell if they overstay their visas or otherwise breach Indonesia’s strong new immigration laws.
The Indonesian Department of Immigration has launched Operation Jagratara – a crackdown on visitors breaching conditions of their visas, and breaking broader laws in general.
Crimes that would have seen tourists jailed for six months to a year will now be punishable by ten years, or a maximum of 20 years behind bars.
The move serves as a warning to those travelling to Indonesia, with 400 people deported already this year for breaching immigration laws.
The new crackdown will not impact most visitors to Bali who pay for visas on arrival and leave within 30 days, or extend their visa to leave within 60 days.
However some overstay their visas by months and even years.
About 125 officers have been deployed across Bali as part of Operation Jagratara, with 20 patrol Jeeps and 20 patrol motorcycles also being rolled out.
Immigration officers will be able to carry firearms while on the job, the Bali Sun reported.
Tourists could spend up to 20 years in a Bali prison cell if they’re found to have overstayed their visas or breached immigration laws, under new harsh measures (pictured at Kuta Beach)
About 125 officers have been deployed across Bali as part of Operation Jagratara, with 20 patrol Jeeps and 20 patrol motorcycles also being rolled out (stock image)
‘Officers often secure dangerous transnational criminals, so the use of firearms is needed as self-protection and to ensure officers can catch the perpetrators,’ Directorate General of Immigration for Indonesia Silmy Karim said.
More immigration checkpoints will also be set up as part of the crackdown.
