Ethiopian Interpol Fugitive Denied Entry and Deported at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport

Immigration authorities at the Class I Special Immigration Office at Ngurah Rai Airport in Badung, Bali, have denied entry to an Ethiopian national (initials SMY, 29) who was listed on an Interpol Red Notice for fraud.

The man arrived at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on September 6, 2026 aboard a Scoot Tigerair flight. During immigration screening, officers discovered his name matched an entry on Interpol's watch list, flagged with an offence code for fraud.

According to Immigration Office Head Muhamad Novyandri, following coordination with Indonesia's Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB), authorities recommended denying him entry into Indonesian territory. Per Interpol's individual report, the man had been listed as "wanted for arrest" since a notification was issued on April 9, 2026, in connection with a fraud case in Ethiopia involving losses of approximately 46.4 million Ethiopian Birr (roughly IDR 5 billion).

The deportation process was delayed after the man initially refused to be sent back to Ethiopia. While awaiting deportation, he was held in the Holding Room at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport. Because of his initial refusal, the deportation required a direct escort from Indonesia's Interpol NCB. He was ultimately deported early on Tuesday, September 15, via Etihad Airways on a Denpasar–Abu Dhabi–Addis Ababa route.

Novyandri described the case as concrete evidence of synergy between Ngurah Rai Immigration and Indonesia's Interpol NCB in detecting and following up on cross-border fugitives. He said the office will continue coordinating with the police's International Relations Division (Divhubinter), Interpol NCB, and related agencies to monitor foreign nationals at the airport.