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View all search resultsRiau Police foil attempt to smuggle undocumented workers to Malaysia
Both Indonesian and Malaysian authorities have been intensifying crackdowns on these undocumented workers. Between January and October, Malaysia deported 4,882 Indonesians, most of whom were undocumented migrant workers.
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Migrant Workers Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding (third left), Riau Police chief Insp. Gen. Hery Heryawan (left) and acting Riau provincial administration secretary M. Job Kurniawan (second left) talk with an arrested human trafficking suspect at the Riau Police headquarters in Pekanbaru on July 17, 2025. The Riau Police arrested 11 suspects for allegedly illegally sending migrant workers to Malaysia and released 100 prospective unauthorized workers to be sent to the neighboring country. (Antara/Rony Muharrman)
R
iau authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle undocumented migrant workers to Malaysia amid an ongoing crackdown on illegal Indonesian laborers in the neighboring country.
The alleged human trafficking ring was uncovered after police received a tip about suspicious activities at a house in Sungai Cingam village, North Rupat subdistrict, Bengkalis regency.
North Rupat Police chief Adj. Comr. Herman said officers immediately conducted a raid and found three suspected undocumented migrant workers inside the house.
“Seven others managed to escape through the back door when officers arrived. We captured two of them, while three others surrendered a few hours later,” Herman said on Wednesday.
According to Herman, an initial investigation revealed that the group was part of a larger group of 19 people who were planning to travel illegally to Malaysia.
The 19 individuals had initially stayed at a guesthouse in Pangkalan Nyirih village, Rupat subdistrict, for three days. They were later taken by a broker to an unofficial port for departure by boat, but the trip was canceled because the vessel was not ready, leaving them stranded on the beach.
Three brokers, identified only as R, DK and DD, then moved 10 of the workers to R’s house in Sungai Cingam village, where they stayed for two days awaiting another departure attempt before police conducted the raid.
