A police detail led by Adjunct Commissioner Hendri Umar stopped three cars carrying the illegal migrant workers on the Cupak highway on their way to Juanda Airport.
"We were informed that there would be some illegal migrant workers. When we stopped the cars, we asked for documents proving the legality of their work overseas, it turned out they were recruited by an illegal agent," the chief of the Surabaya Police`s criminal investigation department. Adjunct Senior Commissioner Anom Wibowo said here Saturday.
The 31 migrants workers were taken to the police station for further identification and questioning.
Police managed to find the mastermind of the manpower smuggling attempt. They were DW (36), a resident of Taloon Permai housing complex in Kamal Sub-district, Bangkalan, Madura, and PRM (38) who lives on Trunojoyo Street, Bangkalan, Madura.
According to Anom Wibowo, Police had seized 31 passports made by Immigration Office of Pati, Central Java, 31 airplane tickets, 31 ID cards of the migrant workers and other documents.
The custody had no Indonesian Migrant Worker Placement Administration License (SIPPTKI) and Migrant Worker Recruitment License (SIP) from the government, Anom said.
One of the illegal migrant workers, Agusmin said he had paid 4.8 million rupiah for the registration and accommodation.
Most of the migrant workers were pledged to work on building construction with 50 ringgit salary per day, equals to around 4.5 million rupiah per month.
According to Agusmin, he wanted to experience working overseas due to the high salary he might get.
The two smugglers said both of them worked together without involvement from others.
This was the greatest smuggle attempt to Malaysia, he said, adding that they had conducted other smuggling three times.
The smugglers violated article 102, paragraph one , letter a and article four of 2004 RI Regulation no. 39 about migrant worker placement and protection in overseas.
(KR-AES/HAJM/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
