Fear of ‘mafia-style syndicates’ in Bali grows amid rise in crimes by foreigners
Experts warn Bali’s weak law enforcement and unchecked tourism are allowing foreign crime groups to take root
A surge in foreigner-linked crime has raised fears that Bali may turn into a “killing ground” for drug traffickers and organised crime groups, as officials and residents warn that efforts to boost mass tourism are eroding public safety and inviting the wrong kind of visitors to the Indonesian island.
Bali police recorded a 16 per cent rise in crimes involving foreigners last year – from 194 cases in 2023 to 226 in 2024 – with 108 such incidents logged between January and June of this year, according to local news outlet The Bali Sun.
Local politician Agung Bagus Pratiksa Linggih attributed the issue to an influx of low-budget travellers staying long-term in unlicensed accommodations that have proliferated since the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The quality of tourists coming to Bali is decreasing,” Agung said as quoted by The Guardian. “This is due to the rapid growth of illegal homestays, which allows low-budget foreigners to stay longer in Bali.”
More than 60,000 visitors arrive on the island each day, which has a population of 4.2 million. Last year, Indonesia’s most visited island welcomed over 6.3 million foreign tourists, and the provincial government hopes to surpass that figure by attracting 6.5 million this year.
But the pressure from such volumes is mounting, say locals, who fear that rapid growth without adequate controls is attracting criminal elements.
“We’ve seen meth labs, villa robberies, crypto scams, property fraud, and ATM theft – often involving Russian or Eastern European groups,” Bali social justice advocate Piter Panjaitan said. “Corruption, weak law enforcement, and easy entry make it a haven for some criminals.”
“We need quality tourism, not just quantity,” he said, calling for stricter immigration checks and more police training.
While most of the foreigner-related crimes involve assault or fraud, there is growing concern that a criminal underbelly is taking root in Bali – with fears that it could evolve into something more dangerous and deeply entrenched if not addressed.
“This is the early phase in the formation of organised crime groups,” Adrianus Meliala, a criminologist at the University of Indonesia, told local news outlet Kompas. “If left unchecked, they could grow into mafia-style syndicates like those seen in Russia or Italy – complete with militias and weapons.”
His warning came in the wake of the shooting of two Australians on June 14, which police suspected was linked to an underworld crime syndicate. Zivan Radmanovic, 32, was killed and Sanar Ghanim, 34, sustained serious injuries to his leg after being shot and beaten by two gunmen who broke into their villa south of the island in the early hours of June 14. Three suspects have been arrested, but the investigation into the motive is still ongoing.
Last year, Bali police arrested more than 1,300 people for drug-related offences, an almost 23 per cent increase from 2023, The Jakarta Post reported. Americans topped the list, followed by Australians, Russians and British nationals. Police also seized 21kg of methamphetamine, over 18,000 Ecstasy pills and nearly 90kg of cannabis in various raids last year.
National Narcotics Agency chief Marthinus Hukom said on Tuesday that international drug dealers were increasingly operating in Bali, using blockchain technology and cryptocurrency to conduct transactions, Antara news agency reported.
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There was a risk that drug traffickers could turn the resort island into a “killing ground”, he warned, pointing to last month’s villa shooting.
