Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  The North Sulawesi Regional Police’s Directorate of Criminal Investigation for Women and Children Protection (PPA-PPO) uncovered two major human trafficking syndicates involved in transporting victims to Cambodia and West Papua.

"The regional police have foiled two attempts to smuggle human trafficking victims over the past two months," said Senior Superintendent Nonie Sengkey during a press conference in Manado on Tuesday (10/3/2026), as quoted by antaranews.com. 

She confirmed that the operations resulted in the arrest of suspects linked to an international online gambling recruitment ring and a domestic labor exploitation scheme targeting the nightlife industry.

In the first case, investigators intercepted three people, who were being trafficked to Poipet, Cambodia, to serve as online gambling operators, at Sam Ratulangi International Airport on 10 February 2026. The suspect, identified as IAL, allegedly facilitated the recruitment process under the direction of overseas handlers, providing loans to victims and arranging international flight permits.

The second case involved a suspect identified as LLP, who was arrested in Manado for attempting to coerce victims into working as hostesses in Manokwari, West Papua. Authorities revealed the victims were trapped in debt bondage through advanced payments and travel costs. 

Both suspects face charges under the Law on the Eradication of the Criminal Act of Human Trafficking, while police coordinate with Indonesian National Police (INP) Headquarters to track the primary recruiters abroad.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)