Indonesia Detains 24 Chinese Nationals in Cybercrime Raids Across Java

Indonesian immigration officers have taken 24 Chinese nationals into custody on suspicion of involvement in transnational cybercrime, the Directorate General of Immigration said, following a series of coordinated operations across Central Java and Yogyakarta. The detainees comprise 19 men and 5 women. The final arrest came on Sunday, October 11, 2026, when a Chinese man flagged under the Subject of Interest system was intercepted at a terminal at Ahmad Yani International Airport.

The operation began with monitoring by the Immigration Oversight Sub-directorate working alongside a Digital Forensics Team, which identified suspicious cyber activity centred on Semarang. Officers then raided a residential house in the city, detaining six Chinese nationals — five men and one woman — and seizing equipment that authorities say was used in the operation, including 50 mobile phones, 42 iPads and 3 laptops.

Investigators subsequently widened the sweep to hotels in the region. One Chinese man was detained at a hotel in Semarang, while a hotel in Yogyakarta yielded six more detainees, four men and two women. A second Semarang hotel produced the largest single group, 10 Chinese nationals made up of eight men and two women, bringing the total across all locations to 24.

All of those detained are being held for intensive questioning, according to the directorate. Investigators say the interrogations are intended to establish each person's role in the suspected operation, identify any local or international accomplices, and trace related networks or additional bases.

The Directorate General of Immigration said it would step up oversight and monitoring of foreign nationals throughout Indonesia, framing the measure as part of efforts to protect national security and public order.