inp.polri.go.id - East Nusa Tenggara. The commitment of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Regional Police in the human trafficking (TPPO) case has been shown following the thwarting of five victims to Malaysia through El Tari Kupang airport on Tuesday (7/28/2026).
The case revelation first came to light following an information received by Team Zero regarding five NTT residents that were about to be sent to Malaysia. The five were known to have purchased tickets for the Kupang-Surabaya-Pontianak flight route, which is suspected to be a non-procedural departure route to Malaysia.
Following up on this information, Team Zero immediately coordinated with the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Service Center (BP3MI) and proceeded to El Tari Kupang Airport to conduct passenger checks.
The operation, led by Second Police Inspector Maksimus Banase, along with BP3MI officers, with support from El Tari Airport Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel and the Indonesian Air Force's Airport Security Task Force, successfully stopped the departure of five prospective passengers suspected of being victims of unprocedural recruitment of migrant workers. Of the five, three were men and two were women, one of whom was still a child.
The Directorate of Criminal Acts for Women and Children Services and Human Trafficking Crimes of the NTT Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Nova Irone Surentu, emphasized that the disclosure was part of their commitment to protecting the public from illegal migrant worker recruitment practices that could potentially lead to human trafficking.
"We will not allow perpetrators who recruit or send people out in an unprocedural manner. This method is very risky because the victims are potentially exploited, lose their rights as workers, and even become victims of human trafficking. Public safety is our priority," asserted Nova.
From the initial investigation, officers secured several pieces of evidence, including two mobile phones, five boarding passes, four identity cards (KTP), and a photocopy of a family card. The five prospective migrant workers, along with the evidence, were taken to the NTT Regional Police Headquarters for further questioning and investigation.
According to Nova, investigators are now focused on tracing the network of recruiters suspected of being behind the attempted departure, including identifying the parties who arranged the victims' travel and departure abroad.
"We will thoroughly investigate the network of recruiters and other parties involved. Anyone proven to have recruited, harbored, sent, or sent migrant workers illegally will be prosecuted according to applicable law," she said.
Nova also appealed to the people of East Nusa Tenggara not to be easily tempted by job offers abroad that promise large salaries without going through official procedures.
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