Inp.polri.go.id - Merangin. The police has once again successfully thwarted Indonesian migrant worker (PMI) trafficking. Police Superintendent Ruri Roberto, the Chief of Merangin Sub-Regional Police explained that the operation based on an investigation by the Task Force for Combatting Human Trafficking Crimes (Satgas TPPO) of Merangin Sub-Regional Police resulted in an arrest of suspect identified as F, 53-year-old, a resident of Muaro Panco Village, Merangin. A total of 12 victims were also prevented from being sent to Malaysia. "We arrested the suspect with evidence including cash and ready-to-depart passports," he stated on Wednesday (2/8/23). He explained that the arrest had been instigated by intelligence pointing to recurrent transactions linked to the departure of citizens abroad. Following a thorough investigation, the police undertook surveillance operations, ultimately intercepting two vehicles transporting the victims for labor in a neighboring nation. "These two vehicles, carrying 12 passengers, were en route from Manau River, with their destination being Malaysia through the Dumai City Port. Their journey was intercepted by the intervention of the Merangin District Police Opsnal team as they passed through Pasar Bawah Bangko, Merangin," he further elaborated. The suspects' approach revolved around exploiting tourist visas as a façade, while in reality, they were engaging in illegal PMIs. The police suspect that this modus operandi has been repeatedly employed. "The modus operandi involves using passports as tourists, but in reality, they work as laborers in Malaysia," he added. The police also confiscated 12 passports belonging to each victim, along with Rp 13,2 million in cash and departure tickets. "As the next step, both the victims, the suspect, and the evidence, will be taken to the Merangin Sub-Regional Police," he concluded. (my/pr/nm)