During a press conference on Thursday, Chief of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police, Senior Commissioner Ronald Sipayung, revealed that the arrested individuals had distinct roles within the trafficking operation.
The perpetrators, identified by the initials RF, S, and Z, were involved in recruiting their victims under the guise of organizing fake Umrah trips.
"Meanwhile, the other four perpetrators, MF, IY, SP, and MRL, operated by pretending to recruit employees," Sipayung explained.
He explained that this human trafficking case came to light between February 6 and 22, 2025, after the Criminal Investigation Unit successfully prevented 127 people from leaving the country.
"We have succeeded in preventing 127 illegal prospective Indonesian migrant workers from leaving for overseas destinations in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia," he remarked.
His side then conducted an investigation and successfully tracked and arrested the individuals responsible for smuggling hundreds of people through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.
Based on the perpetrator's statement, the human trafficking victims were intended to be sent to Greece, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand.
"Those victims are promised salaries ranging from Rp10 million to Rp16 million abroad," Sipayung remarked.
Meanwhile, Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Soetta Airport Police, Commissioner Handari Mono, said his side has named 10 suspects in this case while the three others are still on the run and included on the wanted list.
"The three suspects have the initials H, S, and A. We are still pursuing them," he remarked.
The suspects will face charges under Article 83 Jo. Article 68 and/or Article 81 Jo. Article 69 of Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers and/or Article 4 of Law No. 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Human Trafficking,
"(Under) Article 4 of the Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Human Trafficking, (the suspects could face) a maximum imprisonment of (up to) 15 years and a maximum fine of Rp600 million," Mono stated.
Related news: Police reveal international human trafficking network to Bahrain
Related news: Ministry to repatriate another 92 trafficking victims from Myanmar
Translator: Azmi Syamsul M, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
