National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji said along with the refugees – comprising of 15 Afghans and 25 Pakistanis – they also detained four Indonesian citizens accused of having smuggled the migrants into the country.

“We have detained the four men on suspected charges of people smuggling while the refugees are now in police custody, in coordination with the UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees),” he told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The four Indonesians, identified only as Taher, TN, LN and HU, are now being detained at the Bau-Bau police office for further questioning, Sisno said.

“We need to find who is behind this operation so we can crack the whole syndicate,” he said.

Sisno said only 33 of the 40 refugees were carrying passports at the time.

“These people were on their way to Australia. Now we need to coordinate with officials from the UNHCR in regards as to what must be done next,” he said.

The three-star general said police had discovered six of the 40 foreigners had also been deported from Indonesia in the past.

“Once again they have tried to pass through Indonesia toward Australia,” he said.

Indonesia has become a favorite transit point for people smugglers because of its vast territory and limited security patrols.  

Sisno said human traffickers used a number of tactics to cover their tracks and avoid arrest.  

“They often pretend to have run out of fuel or claim their ship is sinking in an attempt to escape charges,” he said.

Indonesia has long been used as a transit point for people escaping impoverished, often war-torn countries in the hope of entering Australia to begin a new life. In recent years, the majority have come from Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan, typically into Indonesia before continuing onto Australia aboard overcrowded and dangerous vessels.

Australia has intercepted at least five boats carrying dozens of refugees headed by Indonesian crews since September last year. The refugees were mainly from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Sri Lanka.

Lawmaker Eva Kusuma Sundari criticized the government’s method of handling refugees, saying she often received reports from refugees claiming they were treated poorly while in Indonesia.

“We should treat these people, whether they are being smuggled or trafficked, as victims, not criminals. This means we have to provide proper and humane facilities while they are being detained in this country. Apparently, the government continues to fail them,” she told The Jakarta Post.

She said if refugees refused to return home after being rejected by the country, the government must provide an alternative option.   

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