Badung, en.SERU.co.id – Two foreign nationals (WNA) from France and Italy were intercepted at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali as they attempted to flee to Thailand following their alleged involvement in producing and distributing a viral explicit video. The arrests exposed a network producing adult content using fake ride-hailing (ojek online or ojol) attributes to boost virality and monetization.
Head of Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, Bugie Kurniawan, stated that the escape attempt by the two suspects—MMJ (23, female, French) and NBS (24, male, Italian)—was thwarted by officers at the airport’s immigration checkpoint on Friday, March 13, 2026.
“The operation began with intelligence and enforcement officers (Inteldakim) monitoring MMJ’s movements. Suspicion arose from a sudden change in her flight itinerary—from heading to France via Singapore to Thailand instead,” Bugie explained on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Further red flags appeared when MMJ posted on social media appearing to be in Phuket, Thailand, despite immigration records showing she was still in Bali. “The woman’s face was clearly visible in the circulating video, facilitating quick identification,” he added.
During checks at the international departure area, officers found MMJ traveling with NBS. NBS is alleged to have posed as an online ride-hailing driver in the video.
Roles and Viral Strategy
Further investigation by Badung Police Resort (Polres Badung) led to the arrest of another French national, ERB (26, male), suspected of acting as MMJ’s manager and uploader of the content to platforms like OnlyFans and X (formerly Twitter).
Badung Police Chief, AKBP Joseph Edward Purba, revealed the video was filmed at a villa in Pererenan village, Mengwi sub-district, Badung regency. The perpetrators deliberately used an ojol jacket (purchased online for around Rp 300,000) to generate rapid attention and virality on social media.
“The goal was to attract views and increase popularity for their paid content,” Purba stated.
Local Driver Briefly Implicated
The case initially drew public suspicion toward a local online ride-hailing driver from Medan, initials MR (35), who had once interacted with one of the suspects and created light content together in the Batu Bolong area. After thorough investigation, police cleared MR of any involvement in the explicit production.
Legal Proceedings and Consequences
The three foreign nationals are now undergoing criminal proceedings in Indonesia. Upon completion, they face administrative sanctions including deportation and potential inclusion on Indonesia’s immigration blacklist (penangkalan).
Head of the Bali Regional Immigration Office, Felucia Sengky Ratna, reaffirmed strict enforcement: “We will continue synergizing with law enforcement to ensure every violation is handled according to regulations.”
Legally, the suspects could face charges under Indonesia’s Pornography Law, Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE), and the Criminal Code (KUHP), carrying penalties of up to 12 years imprisonment and fines in the billions of rupiah. Immigration violations (e.g., overstaying or misuse of visa) further aggravate their situation. (aan/rhd)
