The suspects, identified as KA (24), AD (24) and AT (33), were caught trying to send 28 Indonesians to foreign countries, specifically China and Qatar.

The operation began when a suspicious woman attempted to board a flight to China through the airport’s Terminal 2F on Oct. 14.

Upon inspection, it was found that she lacked valid migrant worker documentation. Further investigation revealed plans for the departure of other migrants to Qatar via Singapore on Oct. 31.

The suspects attempted to deceive authorities by masking the final destination of the prospective Indonesian migrant workers, making it appear as though they were only departing for Singapore. Following their arrest, the suspects were taken to the airport police station for further investigation.

The three suspects face several charges, including Article 4 of Law No. 21/2007 on the eradication of human trafficking crimes.

Meanwhile, Migrant Workers Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding announced plans to regulate migrant worker training agencies (LPKs) that were often exploited for human trafficking activities.

“We will also encourage the regulation of these rogue LPKs,” Abdul said during a press briefing in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, as quoted by detik.com.

“LPKs are training institutions that are supposed to train [prospective migrant workers], but some of them act as brokers [for human traffickers]. This is usually how human trafficking happens, illegally.”

He further noted that the ministry aims to identify and shut down these problematic LPKs, as well as collaborate with various ministries to ensure effective migrant worker preparation.

 

People smuggling

People smuggling: Bintan Naval Base commander Col. Eko Agus Susanto (left) speaks during a press conference on efforts to intercept two Chinese nationals who were being smuggled from Malaysia to Batam Island, Riau Islands, on Oct. 29. The operation was thwarted on Oct. 28. (Antara/Ogen)

In a separate development, personnel from the Bintan Naval Base in Riau Islands intercepted two illegal immigrants trying to enter Batam Island illegally on Oct. 28.

The two Chinese nationals, a man and a woman, departed from Malaysia on board a slodang wooden boat and were intercepted in Karang Galang in the Riau Strait between Batam and Bintan Islands, the Indonesian Navy said in a statement on Oct. 29.

The boat was crewed by skipper AN and assistant FN.

Bintan Naval Base commander Col. Eko Agus Susanto said his office received information on the attempted smuggling and launched a patrol team in the Riau Strait to block the smuggling.

During the blockage, the team heard a boat passing through the Riau Strait at high speed and tried to approach the source of the noise.

As the team was approaching, the boat suddenly tried to escape leading to a high-speed chase.

The patrol team tried to stop the boat by firing three warning shots and managed to secure the offending boat.

Skipper AN said the two Chinese nationals were picked up at a beach in Renggi, Malaysia, and wanted to cross to Batam illegally. (nvn)