ational Police investigators have arrested a man and a woman suspected to be behind the trafficking of more than a dozen Indonesians to Myanmar, where the victims were forced to run online scams, as ASEAN nations seek a stronger regional response to human trafficking.
Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) general crimes director Brig. Gen. Djuhandani Rahardjo Puro said the two individuals, identified as Andri Satria and Anita Setia Dewi, were apprehended in an apartment in Bekasi, West Java, on Tuesday night and named suspects in response to evidence gathered on the same day. They allegedly trafficked at least 20 Indonesians to Myanmar.
“We have questioned five people based on the report” that the family of a victim filed on May 2, Djuhandani said, as quoted in a statement on the police website. He added that investigators were still collecting information from the 20 victims and hunting for other possible suspects, particularly people who recruited the victims on false promises of employment in Myanmar.
Last week, the family of one of the victims, along with the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI), reported the two suspects to authorities.
SBMI head Hariyanto Suwarno said both suspects were part of an international human trafficking ring that had been operating in Greater Jakarta since 2015.
"In 2019, the SBMI raided an illegal migrant worker shelter belonging to the two suspects," Hariyanto told the press.
Read also: Distrust puts overseas Indonesian trafficking victims in peril
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.
Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.