Interpol fugitive Angelo Pandeli arrested in Bali after alleged attempt to flee on private jet with fake passport

Indonesian immigration authorities have arrested and deported Australian national Angelo Pandeli after allegedly attempting to leave Bali aboard a private jet using a counterfeit passport, officials said on Thursday.

Pandeli, 55, was detained after immigration officers at Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport detected irregularities during clearance checks for passengers travelling on a private flight bound for Maputo, Mozambique, on Saturday night.

According to Indonesian authorities, Pandeli is the subject of an Interpol notice and is suspected of involvement in transnational organised crime. He has not been charged with any offences in Australia, and there is no allegation of wrongdoing against him in connection with his detention in Bali.

Departure blocked at Bali airport

The arrest stemmed from immigration checks conducted at around 10 p.m. local time on June 6 at the airport’s South Terminal, where officers inspected passengers aboard private aircraft N917CJ operating a Denpasar–Maputo route.

The aircraft carried three crew members and four foreign passengers: a Portuguese national identified as ARR, Brazilian nationals identified as GAM and FMJ, and an Italian national identified as GS.

According to Bugie Kurniawan, head of Ngurah Rai Immigration Office, officers detected anomalies involving a passenger travelling on a Brazilian passport under the name GAM.

“During the immigration clearance process, officers detected anomalies regarding a passenger holding a Brazilian passport under the name GAM,” a statement issued by Bali airport’s Immigration Office said.

“[Pandeli] lacked any record of entry or a valid stay permit for Indonesia. While the other three passengers were cleared, officers decided to defer GAM's departure for further intensive questioning.”

Authorities said the remaining passengers possessed complete travel documentation, but concerns over the Brazilian passport prompted further scrutiny.

Found hiding in aircraft toilet

Immigration officials said that before further action could be taken, all four passengers re-entered the aircraft without authorisation and prepared for departure despite instructions from officers.

“Before further action could be taken, all passengers snuck back onto the aircraft without authorisation, and the plane prepared to take off, ignoring the directives of the officers,” the immigration statement said.

Authorities ordered the aircraft to return from the runway to the VIP Terminal.

“Once the aircraft was forced back, officers conducted a sweep and discovered GAM hiding inside the aircraft's toilet, while the other three passengers remained in the cabin,” the statement added.

Subsequent investigations determined that the Brazilian passport bearing the name GAM was counterfeit.

Identity linked to Interpol notice

Officials said further examination established the passenger's true identity as Angelo Pandeli, an Australian citizen born in Whyalla, Australia.

Bugie said immigration systems detected a 100% match between Pandeli’s identity and an Interpol wanted notice.

“Based on information requested from the National Central Bureau (NCB) Canberra, AP is believed to be a fugitive being sought by international law enforcement authorities in connection with transnational criminal offences,” Bugie said.

According to Indonesian authorities, Interpol documents identify Pandeli as an influential figure within a Transnational Serious Organised Crime (TSOC) network and a prominent member of an outlaw motorcycle gang.

“[Mr Pandeli] is identified as an influential figure within a Transnational Serious Organised Crime (TSOC) network and a prominent member of an outlaw motorcycle gang,” Indonesian authorities said, citing an Interpol notice.

“The Australian Federal Police (AFP) state that [Mr Pandeli] is responsible for a series of large-scale illicit narcotics importations into Australian territory.”

“The individual had long been evading law enforcement and is suspected of attempting to covertly leave the region using unlawfully obtained travel documents to escape the reach of the law and continue his network operations from outside Australia.”

Previous allegations in Australia

According to ABC, Pandeli left Australia in 2018 before police executed a search warrant on his Pyrmont home as part of an investigation into an alleged A$250 million drug trafficking plot.

He was never charged with any offences. However, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) alleged in 2021 that he was part of the so-called “Aussie Cartel”, a group police believed operated major drug importation routes into Australia through offshore fugitives.

ABC reported that Pandeli was deported from Dubai to Australia in 2024 but faced no charges upon his return. His whereabouts over the following two years remained unclear, with reports suggesting authorities had lost track of him.

Deported to Australia

Following coordination with Indonesia’s National Police narcotics division, the police international relations division and customs authorities, immigration officials detained Pandeli and suspended the departure of the three other passengers while investigations were conducted.

“The individual was immediately deported following a direct request from the Australian Embassy to undergo further legal proceedings in Australia,” an Indonesian immigration official told ABC.

Pandeli was deported to Adelaide on Wednesday. Indonesian authorities also imposed a lifetime ban preventing him from re-entering the country.

“We affirm that there is no place for fugitives or transnational criminals to use Indonesia as a place of refuge,” Bugie said.

The Australian Federal Police confirmed they were aware of the deportation.

“The AFP is aware a 55-year-old Australian man has been deported from Bali after being detained by the Indonesia Directorate General of Immigration on Saturday, 6 June, 2026,” an AFP spokesperson said.

“The AFP continues to liaise with Indonesian authorities and other partner agencies regarding the man’s travel and the circumstances of his detention.”

“The AFP would like to thank the DGI and the Indonesian National Police for their ongoing support.”