Speaking to journalists during a coffee morning session here on Tuesday, head of the Riau Islands Immigration Office, Ujo Sujoto, said that the surveillance will involve regular independent and joint operations.
The independent operations will follow a set schedule and rely on public support to identify and report suspicious foreign nationals, he said while emphasizing that the immigration office will act on credible public reports.
In conducting the independent operations, his officers will focus on checking residence permits and activities via the online OSS (Online Single Submission) system, Sujoto informed.
In addition, immigration officers will inspect workplaces or hotels based on community reports or intelligence from the foreigner monitoring team, he added.
The immigration office has also rolled out the Foreigner Reporting Application (APOA) to help hotel operators and landlords report foreign guests.
For joint operations, the Riau Islands immigration office will involve its counterparts from Customs, police, and the military, as seen in a recent sea patrol to identify high-risk zones for illegal foreign entries.
“We are intensifying sea operations in Riau Islands, which borders Malaysia and Singapore,” he informed.
In July this year, his office collaborated with the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) office to carry out the Wira Waspada immigration sweep targeting non-compliant companies in Batam and Bintan Islands.
During the sweep on July 16, 2025, his officers detained 15 foreign workers in Bintan and 20 others in Batam for violating immigration rules. They were then deported, he said.
To track foreigners’ presence and activities, the Immigration Directorate has established monitoring teams at all government levels, Sujoto added.
“The teams have been formed to safeguard national and regional stability. Immigration prioritizes foreigners who contribute to our economy, tourism, and investment,” he said.
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Translator: Ogen, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Arie Novarina
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