Labuan Bajo arrest prompts planned list of licensed tour operators

Labuan Bajo — Police arrested travel operator Kristoforus Aman, known as Itok Aman, on 19 October 2026 in Manggarai Timur after six Italian tourists reported an alleged fraud case involving a Komodo National Park marine-tour package.

Why it matters: Visitors booking Komodo marine tours can use the planned government list to check whether local operators and travel agents hold legal permits.

The arrest followed a joint operation by officers from Manggarai Barat and Manggarai Timur, according to Detik Bali and Digtara. Police later transferred Aman to the Manggarai Barat police station for further questioning.

The six tourists reported the case on 12 August after arriving in Labuan Bajo and losing contact with the operator, Floresa reported. They had paid Rp125 million to Aman’s Labuan Bajo Top agency for a six-day marine package in Komodo National Park.

Police separately said three Italian tourists had reported a suspected fraud case involving Rp79.8 million. Investigators subsequently named Aman a suspect in that case and said he faced a possible four-year prison sentence, according to Detik Bali.

Planned operator list

Following the arrest, the government planned to publish a list of tour operators and travel agents operating legally in Labuan Bajo. The measure is intended to help visitors check whether a provider holds the required permits, Floresa reported, citing the head of the Manggarai Barat criminal investigations unit.

The planned list was presented as a visitor-protection measure after the complaint. The sources did not report a publication date for the list.

Sources

• Floresa
• Detik Bali
• Digtara