Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA) – The Ngurah Rai Class I Special Immigration Office (TPI) in Bali repatriated an Ethiopian national identified by the initials SMY, 29, who was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice in connection with a fraud case.
Ngurah Rai Immigration Office Head Muhamad Novyandri said on Friday that the action underscored the office’s commitment to safeguarding Indonesia’s territorial sovereignty while supporting international law enforcement cooperation.
“This demonstrates the strong cooperation between Ngurah Rai Immigration and NCB Interpol Indonesia in dealing with transnational fugitives. Our immigration surveillance covers travelers from arrival to departure. When an Interpol hit was detected, we immediately coordinated and took action according to procedure,” he said.
Novyandri said the foreign national was repatriated to Ethiopia in the early hours of Tuesday (September 15) under the strict escort of NCB Interpol Indonesia.
SMY was first detected on September 6, 2026, upon arriving at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on a Scoot Tigerair flight.
During the immigration inspection, further scrutiny by officers revealed that SMY’s name appeared on the Interpol Red Notice list under an offense code for fraud.
Following coordination with NCB Interpol, a recommendation was immediately issued to deny SMY entry into Indonesian territory.
According to the Interpol Individual Report, SMY had been wanted since the notification was issued on April 9, 2026, in connection with a fraud case in Ethiopia involving total losses of ETB 46.4 million (Ethiopian birr), equivalent to approximately Rp5 billion (US$273 thousand).
As SMY initially refused to return to Ethiopia, NCB Interpol Indonesia provided a direct escort for his repatriation. He was held in the holding room at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport while awaiting the repatriation process.
On September 15, 2026, SMY was eventually flown by Etihad Airways from Denpasar to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, via Abu Dhabi, under the direct escort of NCB Interpol Indonesia.
Novyandri added that his office would continue to strengthen cooperation with the National Police’s International Relations Division, NCB Interpol Indonesia, and other relevant agencies.
The measure is aimed at ensuring that I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport remains a secure entry and exit point, protected against the movement of foreign nationals who could potentially threaten legal order at the national and international levels.
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Translator: Rolandus Nampu, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Primayanti
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