inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Bengkalis Sub-regional Police in Riau Province have arrested three Indonesian citizens and one foreign national from Myanmar (Rohingya) for alleged human trafficking (TPPO).

Bengkalis Sub-regional Police Chief, Superintendent Fahrian Saleh Siregar, revealed that the arrest stemmed from 110 hotline service reports. 

These reports were immediately responded to ensure the safety of potential victims who were threatened with being sent abroad without legal protection.

"In this undercover operation, officers successfully apprehended a total of 12 people from the incident location in Sepahat Village, Bandar Laksamana District," said Fahrian on Wednesday (2/4/2026).

The operation took place at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday (2/3/2026) at a house suspected of being a shelter for illegal labor migrants. After intensive investigation, four of the suspects were identified as the main suspects: men with the initials Z (44), MR (54), SS (25), and C (27).

They are strongly suspected of being involved in organizing the irregular departure of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) to Malaysia via sea in Bengkalis.

"The four victims were found at different shelters without official documents, a grim portrait of human exploitation targeting vulnerable groups," explained Fahrian.

He said the perpetrators face severe penalties for their actions. They are suspected of violating Article 2 paragraph (1) of Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of Human Trafficking and Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration.

He continued, explaining that these firm measures were taken to provide a deterrent effect and demonstrate police's commitment to eradicating human trafficking mafias that frequently exploit coastal areas.

"Currently, all suspected perpetrators and victims are at the police headquarters for further questioning," said the Police Chief.

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