Inp.polri.go.id - Ambon.  The Indonesian National Police (INP) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP) have intensified joint efforts to curb rising human smuggling cases in Maluku Province, where Ambon Airport has become a key transit point for illegal departures.

“This initiative aims to raise public awareness about the dangers and legal consequences of human smuggling, especially in border regions often used as illegal transit routes,” said Senior Superintendent Juara Silalahi of the INP’s International Relations Division in Ambon on Saturday (4/10/2025), as quoted by antaranews.com.

The awareness campaign, held at Ambon’s Pattimura Airport, involved airport workers, taxi drivers, and motorcycle riders. AFP Federal Agent Chad Aston praised the collaboration, calling human smuggling a “high-risk transnational crime” that often ends in tragedy.

He revealed that at least 11 smuggling attempts occurred in the past year using Ambon as a transit hub, with victims, mostly from China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, paying up to Rp 70 million but never reaching Australia. Both agencies vowed to strengthen surveillance and law enforcement coordination.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)