Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.The Indonesian National Police (INP) Criminal Investigation Agency have completed an assessment of 249 Indonesian citizens repatriated from Cambodia and Myanmar to determine their status as human trafficking victims. 

The assessment, conducted alongside the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Migrant Worker Protection Agency, revealed that the group was lured by fraudulent job advertisements on Facebook and Telegram promising positions as restaurant staff or e-commerce operators.

“Assessments were carried out to determine whether these citizens were victims of human trafficking or not,” said Brigadier General Nurul Azizah, the Director of the Women and Children Protection and Anti-Trafficking, on Monday (9/2/2026), as cited by antaranews.com.

Investigations found that victims were trafficked using tourist visas via Singapore and Thailand before being forced to work 14 to 18 hours a day in heavily guarded online scam centers. 

While promised monthly salaries of up to Rp8 million, many remained unpaid and were prohibited from leaving their compounds. Currently, three people have signaled their intent to file formal police reports in North Sumatra as authorities continue to trace the recruiters.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)