SP-indonesia.com, Indonesia – The ranks of Sub-Directorate 4 of the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Riau Islands Regional Police successfully thwarted an alleged human trafficking (TPPO) case and the unlawful sending of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) to Malaysia. In the investigation, police arrested a husband and wife from Banyuwangi, East Java, who are suspected of being part of an illegal migrant worker network.
The three prospective illegal migrant workers were apprehended by officers at the Fitria Homestay area in Batam City on Thursday (May 7, 2026), shortly after arriving from Hang Nadim International Airport in Batam.
Head of Sub-Directorate 4 of the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Riau Islands Regional Police, Police Commissioner Tri Prasetyo, explained that the case stemmed from public reports regarding alleged illegal migrant worker sending activities via Batam.
“This disclosure began with a public report on April 27, 2026, and was followed by a field operation by the Operational Team. These efforts paid off on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at approximately 9:00 a.m. Western Indonesian Time, when officers successfully apprehended three prospective migrant workers who were in the Fitria Homestay area shortly after arriving from Hang Nadim Airport,” Tri Prasetyo told the journalist
Preliminary investigations revealed that the entire recruitment process, including the victims’ departure to Batam, was controlled by a network based in East Java.
The three rescued victims were a woman with the initials LF (33) from Banyuwangi, and two other victims with the initials L (42) and RM (34) from Bondowoso. All three were suspected of being sent to Malaysia without official employment documents in accordance with applicable law.
“All three were sent to Malaysia without valid supporting documents in accordance with employment regulations,” Tri emphasized.
The case then expanded to Banyuwangi Regency, East Java. As a result of the pursuit, police successfully apprehended two suspects, identified as a married couple with the initials MA (49) and B (47).
During the operation, police also seized several pieces of evidence, including two mobile phones, three passports belonging to the victims, airline tickets or boarding passes, cash, and ATM cards allegedly used to arrange the departure of the prospective illegal migrant workers.
For their actions, the two suspects were charged under Article 4 in conjunction with Article 10 of Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of the Crime of Human Trafficking (TPPO). Furthermore, they were also suspected of violating the provisions of Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers.
(Indonesian Reporter: Jim)
