inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesian National Police (INP) Criminal Investigation Agency identified a suspect for the human trafficking case of 699 Indonesians to Myamnar.

The suspect, HR (27), an employee, was said to have also gone back home to Indonesia from Myanmar. HR was said to recruit the Indonesian to work in Thailand as a customer service, however, instead HR sent them to the conflict area in Myanmar, specifically in Myawaddy, and forced them to work as an online scam operator.

“They were promised huge salaries and fancy facilities on social media. But the truth is that they worked as digital scammers and they did not receive their rights as promised," said the Women and Children Protection and Human Trafficking Director of the Indonesian National Police (INP) Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Nurul Azizah on Friday (3/21/2025).

According to the assessment of all victims at the Ministry of Social Affairs Protection House and Trauma Center, the victims were recruited from Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram. They were promised a salary of IDR 10 million and IDR 15 million, along with plane tickets.

However, upon arrival in Myanmar, the victims are required to reach the targets by collecting telephone numbers for potential victims of online fraud. If they fail, they are subjected to violence, either verbally, physically, or having their salaries cut.

Of the 699 people who have been repatriated, 116 of them are known to have worked in the online scam sector repeatedly. The assessment results also identified five other groups of suspected perpetrators, namely BR, EL alias AW, RI, HR, and HRR, who are currently still in the process of developing the investigation.

"We will continue to develop this case to catch the perpetrators and parties involved in sending migrant workers illegally. This is our serious concern because it concerns the protection of Indonesian citizens," said Brigadier General Nurul Azizah.

She also appealed to the public not to be easily tempted by offers of work abroad that promise high salaries without going through official procedures.

"Make sure the entire migration process is carried out legally and verified by the authorized agency. Don't get caught up in the lure that leads to exploitation," she explained.

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