Naomi Kuria explains why she was arrested at Indonesian airport
By Steve Ireri, February 24, 2026Content creator Naomi Kuria has opened up about the circumstances that led to her and travel TikToker Diana Daisy Gau being detained at an Indonesian airport shortly after landing for their vacation.
Speaking in a video shared on her TikTok page on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Naomi revealed that they were briefly held at the Indonesian immigration offices, clarifying that the situation is common, especially for first-time travellers entering the country.
“When you see us here, just know that we are free. Hi, we are finally free. We were detained at the Indonesian immigration office, but this is actually very normal if you are travelling to a country for the first time,” she said.
She explained that immigration officers required routine checks, including verifying their travel documents and confirming whether they had sufficient funds to sustain their stay in Indonesia.
“Diana was the one who was supposed to present her passport first for inspection. They usually want to confirm if you have enough money to sustain your stay, and that is the main reason,” she said.
On her part, Diana shared that Naomi was the first to be taken in for questioning, where she was subjected to a series of enquiries regarding their travel plans, financial capability, and intended activities while in the country.
She explained that such questioning is normal in Indonesia, particularly for visitors arriving for the first time.
She added that the experience can vary depending on the immigration officer handling the case.
“So I was taken into a room and asked many questions, including how much money we had, our itinerary, and what we were planning to do there. Those kinds of questions are very normal, and I experienced the same when I first came to Indonesia. It also depends on the immigration officer you meet, as some are more understanding than others. For Naomi, it was a bit more intense,” she said.
Diana noted that Naomi’s experience with the officers was more intense but maintained that the process was still part of standard immigration procedures.
She revealed that what ultimately secured their release was proof of financial stability, as immigration officers insisted on seeing their bank balances.
Diana explained that authorities were keen on confirming they could afford to stay in the capital, where the cost of living is significantly high.
“What actually helped us and led to our release was our financial status. They usually ask to see your bank account, and the reason they focus on money is because we were entering the capital city where life is quite expensive. Once they saw our bank balance, they allowed us to proceed, and that was the situation,” she added.