Police Foil Trafficking Bid, Rescue 36 Indonesians Bound For Malaysia

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, Oct 2 (Bernama) -- Police in North Sumatra have rescued 36 Indonesians, including eight women from an alleged human smuggling operation during a pre-dawn raid on a coastal shelter where they were about to be trafficked to Malaysia.

The raid at around 4 am on Sept 28 in Silo Baru village, Asahan Regency, followed reports of suspicious activity at a fish warehouse

North Sumatra Police Criminal Investigation Director Commissioner Ricko Taruna Mauruh said three suspects were detained during the operation.

“They played various roles, from recruiting via social media, to working as ship crew and maintaining engines,” he said in a statement.

One suspect was paid 500,000 rupiah (US$32) by a ship owner, while another received 1.5 million rupiah (US$97) per week from the shelter operator, he added.

The three suspects are being held at the provincial police headquarters for further questioning, while the workers have been transferred to the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection and Service Centre (BP3MI) for registration and assistance.

Authorities have warned Indonesians seeking jobs abroad not to use illegal routes, stressing the risk of exploitation and human trafficking.

-- BERNAMA