"If law enforcement officers at all levels do not conspire with human traffickers… I am sure that this crime can be prevented as early as possible," he said in a statement released on Tuesday.
Effendy said that human trafficking is an iceberg phenomenon, with fewer cases reported than the actual number.
Human trafficking is included in transnational crimes that are contrary to human dignity and violate human rights, he added.
Therefore, firmness is needed, especially on the part of law enforcement officials, to catch and deter the perpetrators and reduce the number of cases, he said.
"We have to give our best and strengthen all parties, starting from initial prevention to legal action, to eradicate cases of human trafficking," Effendy emphasized.
He said that human trafficking is also linked to illegal drug trafficking. So far, efforts to address the two issues have focused more heavily on prevention and rehabilitation.
"During a limited meeting, President Joko Widodo directly asked law enforcement to reveal the perpetrators and their backups," he pointed out.
Meanwhile, the head of Sub-Directorate V of the Directorate of General Crimes of the National Police, Senior Police Commissioner Enggar Pareanom, appealed to the public to be alert against offers on social media such as job advertisements offering high salaries.
He said that the current rise in information technology has hampered efforts to eradicate human trafficking. Therefore, the government is committed to eradicating this crime.
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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Resinta S
Editor: Anton Santoso
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