Inp.polri.go.id - Batam. The Water and Air Police of the Riau Islands Regional Police intercepted an illegal operation attempting to smuggle 17 Indonesian migrant workers to Malaysia on Monday (2/2/2026).
During a raid in Sekupang, Batam, authorities arrested a local resident identified as R, who allegedly served as a harborer for the group. The victims, consisting of 15 men and two women primarily from Lombok, North Sumatra, and South Sumatra, were reportedly being prepared for unauthorized departure via speedboats to bypass official border controls.
"Our personnel moved to a house in Sekupang used to harbor these 'backdoor' migrant worker candidates," said Superintendent Andyka Aer, the Head of Law Enforcement Sub-directorate of the Riau Islands Water and Air Police.
Investigators revealed that the recruits were lured by an unidentified broker in Malaysia with promises of plantation and domestic work. The operation utilized a "debt-bondage" system where travel costs were covered upfront by the overseas recruiter.
The suspect, R, now faces charges under Law No. 18/2017 concerning the Protection of Migrant Workers, while the victims have been handed over to the BP3MI for repatriation.
(mg/inp/pr/rs)
