Indonesia's Immigration Chief Flags Sham Marriages, Illegal Land Deals, and Organized Crime Networks Involving Foreigners

On September 14, 2026, Indonesia's Directorate General of Immigration stated on the TV program 'Abraham di Nusantara TV' that crimes involving foreign nationals are being driven by organized, structured criminal syndicates rather than isolated incidents. Director General Hendarsam Marantoko explained that one common scheme is the so-called 'sham marriage' (kawin kontrak), in which a foreigner pretends to marry an Indonesian citizen in order to acquire or purchase land—something foreigners are legally barred from owning outright.

Other targeted crimes include drug trafficking, human trafficking, cyber scam operations based in Jakarta's Hayam Wuruk area, and online gambling or covert casinos in Batam. Because many victims of cyber scams are located abroad, making criminal prosecution difficult, immigration authorities are using immigration law violations as a secondary enforcement layer to deter such activity.

The Director General acknowledged that this crackdown risks provoking backlash, defamation campaigns, and resistance from vested interests—referring to a phenomenon he called 'Londo Ireng,' in which foreign actors allegedly use local citizens or social media buzzers to push back against government policies that disrupt their interests.

Addressing concerns that stricter immigration enforcement could harm Bali's tourism industry, officials argued the move is meant to protect, not damage, tourism value. They stated Indonesia will not serve as a destination for low-quality, rule-breaking foreign tourists, and will instead apply a 'selective policy' to admit visitors who respect local customs and contribute positively to the local economy. While this is a nationwide policy rather than a Bali-specific measure, it could still affect foreign residents' visa status and property arrangements in Bali going forward.