Three suspects were arrested in the operation: two Chinese nationals identified by the initials SS (37) and XS (39), and a Thai national PK (27).
“This operation stemmed from public reports about foreigners suspected of illegally possessing Indonesian electronic ID cards (e-KTP) in West Jakarta,” said Head of the Jakarta Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration Pamuji Raharja during a press conference on Tuesday.
Immigration officers raided the location on January 12, seizing passports, fake ID cards, and mobile phones used by the perpetrators.
Investigators identified SS as the mastermind of the syndicate.
He was found carrying a counterfeit e-KTP under the name Gunawan Santoso, registered as a resident of Cianjur, West Java.
SS admitted to obtaining the fraudulent documents with the help of an Indonesian citizen, LS, paying Rp90 million (US$5,300) for an e-KTP, family card, and birth certificate.
These documents were used to rent accommodation and provide logistical support for the smuggling operation.
The syndicate targeted Chinese nationals seeking asylum or illegal employment in Australia.
Victims reportedly flew independently from China to Jakarta, where they were housed temporarily before being transported to Merauke, Papua, by suspect XS.
From there, they departed for Australia aboard a vessel operated by an accomplice known as A, alias C.
XS confessed to successfully smuggling five individuals to Australia, charging 60,000 RMB (Rp130 million / US$7,500) per person.
He admitted to profiting 8,000 RMB (Rp17 million / US$1,000) from each case.
However, all five migrants were later detained by Australian immigration authorities.
Head of the West Jakarta Class I Special Non-TPI Immigration Office Ronald Arman Abdullah stated that the three suspects will face strict sanctions, including deportation and a permanent ban on entry to Indonesia.
They are accused of violating Article 75(1), Article 120, and Article 122 of Law No. 6/2011 on Immigration, covering human smuggling and misuse of residence permits.
“These fake citizenship documents were used not only for personal gain but also to facilitate the illegal departure of Chinese nationals to Australia,” Abdullah explained.
Meanwhile, Head of Immigration Intelligence and Enforcement Yoga Kharisma Suhud confirmed that authorities are still investigating the role of LS, the Indonesian intermediary who allegedly produced the counterfeit ID cards.
Translator: Redemptus Elyonai Risky, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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