Indonesia warns foreign visitors after Raja Ampat turtle case

Jakarta — — Indonesia’s immigration authorities have warned that foreign nationals who damage the environment or threaten protected wildlife may face immigration sanctions, after detaining a Chinese freediving instructor over an alleged turtle killing in the Raja Ampat marine conservation area.

Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said his office would impose “appropriate sanctions” on foreigners who violate Indonesian laws, especially those involving environmental damage or protected wildlife, according to a national statement issued on 16 September 2026.

The warning followed the case of a Chinese national identified in Indonesian reports by the initials WS and in foreign media as Wei Shang, who was intercepted by immigration officers in the departure area of Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Monday, 14 September 2026. He was reportedly preparing to board a flight to Kuala Lumpur when officers stopped his departure at the request of the Raja Ampat regency government.

Case linked to viral Raja Ampat turtle video

Authorities in Raja Ampat began monitoring WS after footage circulated on social media allegedly showing a diver spearfishing a protected sea turtle in the Fam Islands near Piaynemo, within the Raja Ampat Marine Conservation Area. Indonesian immigration officials said the documentation appeared to show spearfishing that targeted protected marine species such as turtles.

Several outlets have reported that the animal involved was a critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle, Eretmochelys imbricata which is classified as a protected species in Indonesia. According to regional police cited in local and regional media, the alleged incident took place between 8 and 11 September 2026 in waters near a homestay in the Fam Islands.

Immigration officials in Makassar acted after receiving an urgent letter from the Raja Ampat regency government asking that WS be prevented from leaving Indonesia while the allegations were investigated. Immigration intelligence and enforcement officers located him at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport at around 17:00 WITA on 14 September and detained him for further processing.

WS was initially held at the Class I Special Immigration Office at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport before being transferred to the Sorong Immigration Office in Southwest Papua on Wednesday, 16 September, for questioning and examination of his immigration documents, according to immigration officials and syndicated reporting.

Immigration response and possible sanctions

Hendarsam Marantoko said immigration would coordinate with the Raja Ampat administration and other relevant agencies to gather evidence and supporting documents related to the case. He stated that foreigners who damage the environment or threaten protected wildlife could face not only administrative sanctions but potentially criminal proceedings, depending on the outcome of the investigation.

Local immigration officials have described the case as opening the possibility of criminal charges, not just immigration penalties, although they have not publicly detailed specific provisions or announced a final decision. As of mid-September, reports indicated that WS was under examination in Sorong and that his immigration documents were being reviewed, with authorities waiting for his lawyer and interpreter.

Media accounts also note that WS has denied the allegations, saying he is not the diver shown in the video and claiming he has never killed a turtle in Raja Ampat. No court ruling or formal indictment had been reported in the sources reviewed by 19 September 2026, so the legal status of the case remains under investigation.

Implications for foreign visitors, including those transiting Bali

The statement from Indonesia’s Immigration Directorate General applies nationwide and is not limited to Raja Ampat. It underscores that foreign nationals can face immigration action if suspected of damaging the environment or threatening protected wildlife, even when the alleged conduct occurs during tourism, diving or recreational activities.

Reports on the WS case describe coordination between immigration offices in Sorong and Makassar and between immigration authorities and the Raja Ampat regency government, but they do not mention any parallel enforcement action by immigration offices in Bali. The warning is therefore best understood as a national stance that is relevant to foreigners travelling across Indonesia, including those visiting Bali before or after trips to marine conservation areas.

For travellers, divers, guides and conservation workers, the practical takeaway is that a valid visa or tourism purpose does not shield foreign nationals from investigation if authorities allege violations of Indonesian environmental or wildlife protection laws. Visitors are advised to follow local regulations, adhere to conservation rules in marine parks and protected areas, and comply with instructions from Indonesian authorities.

Sources

• HT Syndication – "Indonesia to sanction foreigners violating protected wildlife laws"
• RRI (English) – "Foreign National Arrested for Killing Protected Leatherback Turtle in Raja Ampat"
• Sindomakassar – "Imigrasi Makassar Amankan WNA Terduga Pembunuh Satwa Dilindungi"
• The Standard – "Chinese freediving instructor arrested in Indonesia for hunting and eating protected sea turtle"
• Gutzy Asia – "37yo China national, a freediving instructor, held in Indonesia over alleged turtle killing"
• Asiae – "Blocked From Departure Over Endangered Turtle Hunting Allegation After Social Media Video"
• VnExpress International – "Chinese diver detained for allegedly spearing, eating endangered turtle in world's most biodiverse waters"
• CNN Indonesia – "Dirjen Imigrasi soal WNA buru penyu: Harus dihukum setimpal"
• Dive Magazine – "Chinese instructor arrested for allegedly killing and eating turtle in Raja Ampat"
• Sarawak Tribune – "Diver Detained After Alleged Turtle Killing Video In Raja Ampat Goes Viral"