inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Officers from the Rote Ndao Sub-regional Police, arrested seven foreign nationals suspected of being illegal immigrants on the coast of Masidae Beach, Inaoe Village, South Rote District, Rote Ndao Regency.
Rote Ndao Sub-regional Police Chief, Superintendent Mardiono, stated that the seven foreign nationals, from China and Uzbekistan, were arrested by police when the boat they were traveling on ran aground on Rote Ndao beach on Tuesday (2/24/2026).
"We obtained information about their whereabouts from people of Inaoe Village on Tuesday (2/24/2026)," said Mardiono on Wednesday (February 25th, 2026). Following the report, police visited the location and found the seven foreign nationals and an unmarked boat.
The seven foreign nationals were four Chinese nationals: Hui Jie, Jiang Bo, Chen Yong, and Dia Guozhong. The other three were Uzbek nationals: Kasimov, Sultanmoradov, and Shodiev.
"They are currently at our headquarters for further questioning," said Mardiono. Preliminary investigations revealed that the Chinese nationals had previously come to Indonesia via Jakarta. From Jakarta, they headed to Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.
They departed on February 11, 2026, by ship through an intermediary suspected to be an Indonesian citizen. "They admitted to traveling for approximately eight days by sea to the Australian border," he concluded.
However, upon arrival, they were arrested by Australian authorities and ordered to return to Indonesian territory by speedboat with sufficient fuel, ultimately ending up stranded in the waters south of Rote Ndao.
The foreign nationals also admitted to communicating with the organizers via social media and intending to go to Australia for work. Meanwhile, three foreign nationals from Uzbekistan admitted to paying the organizers US$400 per person for their departure.
Currently, police are still investigating the network involved, including tracing the escorts who are suspected of having fled. "The handling of this case is also being coordinated with immigration authorities for further legal proceedings in accordance with applicable regulations," he concluded.
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