Police Stop 98 Illegal Indonesian Migrant Workers Bound for Cambodia, Middle East

TEMPO.CO, Tangerang - The Subdirectorate III of the Directorate of the Protection of Women and Children, the Eradication of Human Trafficking (PPE/PPO) of the Indonesian National Police, along with the Class I Special Immigration Office at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, has foiled the departure of 98 Indonesian citizens suspected to be victims of human trafficking crimes (TPPO). This prevention was carried out from June 1 to 25, 2025.

These Indonesians were attempting to leave the country as illegal Indonesian migrant workers. "Their destination was countries in the Middle East, such as Yemen, Saudi Arabia, as well as Cambodia and Malaysia. All of which were non-procedural," said the Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Class I Special Immigration Office, Johanes Fanny Satria Cahya Aprianto, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

According to Fanny, these dozens of non-procedural Indonesian migrant workers were going to leave the country without following the official procedures set by the government. "The modus operandi used is as if they were departing independently or were facilitated by relatives and acquaintances already abroad," said Fanny.

Fanny admitted that the process of identifying these non-procedural potential Indonesian migrant workers was not easy, as many of them disguised themselves as tourists.

Commissioner General Amingga Primastito, the Head of Subdirectorate III of the PPE/PPO Directorate of the Indonesian National Police, stated that this prevention was conducted to prevent the departure of Indonesian citizens who will work in conflict-stricken countries such as the Middle East, which is currently in a state of war.

"Because the situation in the Middle East is currently experiencing a war. We conducted this prevention to avoid any Indonesian citizens from becoming victims," said Amingga.

In addition, he stated that this prevention is part of the effort to combat human trafficking, especially those targeting Indonesian citizens to be sent to conflict-prone regions such as the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

"We have found many victims recruited to work illegally in vulnerable sectors, such as domestic helpers, restaurant workers, and workers in online gambling and scam industries in Cambodia," said Amingga.

He added that this situation is very concerning, especially in the Middle East region, where conflicts are currently occurring.

According to him, most potential Indonesian migrant workers were recruited by individuals they knew, even neighbors or relatives. This scheme is said to have formed a fairly extensive covert recruitment network.

"This prevention effort is expected to reduce the number of TPPO cases and to save Indonesian citizens from the traps of active human trafficking syndicates," he said.

The rescued victims will undergo an assessment process to identify the recruitment networks involved. "After this process, they will be handed over to BP2MI (Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency) for repatriation and protection," said Amingga.

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