On January 31, 2025, Khasan Askhabov, a 30-year-old foreign national, was arrested at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport. He is suspected of being the leader of a Russian gang involved in robbing a Ukrainian national in the Ungasan area of Badung. What led to this crime unfolding in Bali’s idyllic surroundings?
This arrest has raised concerns about the rise of international crime syndicates targeting tourists in popular destinations. The incident took place on December 15, 2024, when a Ukrainian national and his driver were ambushed. The victims were forcibly taken to a villa, where their cryptocurrency assets, worth a staggering IDR 3.4 billion, were stolen.
The well-planned heist involved two vehicles blocking the victims’ path, followed by a brutal attack by four masked assailants armed with weapons. The violent crime has put a spotlight on the issue of tourist safety in Indonesia.
Khasan Askhabov was apprehended while attempting to flee to Dubai, and the authorities are continuing their investigation. Eight more suspects are believed to be involved in the crime, and authorities are working together with Bali’s police and immigration teams to tackle international crime.
