Arrested Afghans human trafficking victims: Police

CILACAP: Police said Tuesday the 19 Afghan citizens recently arrested in Cilacap, Central Java, were not political refugees but rather victims of human trafficking.

"We've received confirmation from the UNHCR that they were trafficked into Indonesia," said Cilacap Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Guruh Ahmad.

"So we're now focusing our investigation on the trafficking case."

He said Zhazad Akhtar Ali Chacha and his wife, Zarina Bibi, had been named suspects in the case.

They were accused of facilitating the immigrants' arrival in Cilacap, Guruh added.

He said the 19 Afghans had been transferred to the Cilacap immigration office.

"They will be sent to a detention center in Makassar *in South Sulawesi*," he said. - JP