inp.polri.go.id - Batam. The General Criminal Investigation Directorate of Riau Island Regional Police has successfully prevented the departure of seven illegal Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) to the Middle East at International Batam Center Ferry Port.

The Head of Riau Island Regional Police Public Relations, Senior Superintendent Zahwani Pandra Arsyad says the seven PMIs are illegal migrants who were about to depart to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

“They were told to work as welders in Abu Dhabi non-procedurally,” he says, quoted from Antaranews, on Thursday (2/13/2025).

Zahwani says the case reveal began when the port officials were checking on the ferry passengers on Monday (2/10/2025) at 07.00 am at Batam Center Port.

During the checking, officials found the seven illegal PMIs from Batam, Karimun, and Bengkalis.

Port officials then conducted an examination of the seven prospective illegal migrant workers and obtained the initial information that their departure had been arranged by an administrator with the initials L who was in Abu Dhabi.

"They were promised to receive training and work as welders abroad," he said.

On the other hand, the General Criminal Investigation Director of Riau Island Regional Police, Senior Superintendent Ade Mulyana said that no suspects have been named in this case and the police are still investigating the perpetrators who sent the prospective illegal migrant workers.

"We have received information that the person who took care of it is an Indonesian citizen who is in Abu Dhabi. We have contacted them for information, but on the third day they disappeared and could not be contacted again," he explained.

According to him, the prospective illegal migrant workers have the potential to become victims of TPPO because they were sent to Abu Dhabi to be interviewed and trained, not to immediately work. If they pass the test, then they will be employed.

In addition, the recruiting company is in Abu Dhabi, not in Indonesia.

Moreover, the seven prospective illegal migrant workers have never had work experience abroad. In addition, the administrators who were contacted can no longer be contacted.

"The administrators or operators who handle the departure of prospective migrant workers are Indonesian citizens, but use Abu Dhabi numbers," he said.

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