JAKARTA – Indonesia’s information gathering, surveillance and ongoing investigations has paid off with the arrest of several local men by security agencies for human smuggling activities.
The move was part of the agencies’ efforts to address human trafficking of illegal migrant workers from Indonesia to Malaysia and their thorough investigation into the boat capsize incident last December, where 21 people died.
Riau police have arrested three suspects, including the boat owner, identified as Susanto, after the boat capsized in waters off Tg Balau, Kota Tinggi, Johor.
The two suspects believed to be recruiting brokers from Batam were detained on January 2, while Susanto was arrested in Tg Uban Bintan, Riau, according to online media reports.
In the tragedy last month, a boat, believed to be carrying about 50 immigrants, capsized in waters of Tg Balau at 4.30am during stormy weather.
The number of victims drowned in the incident remains at 21, with over 16 still feared missing and 13 rescued. Nine of the survivors are from Lombok, and one each from Batam, Pekan Baru, Jember and Tg Balai Karimun.
The tragedy sparked outrage and rekindled ugly memories of past incidents, including to a Member of Commission I of the House of Representatives, Christina Aryani, who said authorities have not addressed long-standing human trafficking issues properly.
Aryani expressed hope the tragedy would be a momentum of comprehensive reform, stressing that “it’s a matter of human life”.
Meanwhile, the Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers revealed individuals who seek work abroad illegally pay up to 15 million rupiah (RM4,400) to recruiters.
Manpower and Transmigration Department of Central Lombok Regency head Lalu Karyawan urged the public to remain vigilant against recruiters who offer jobs in Malaysia.
The local government has not received any notice from the central government regarding job placement in Malaysia since the pandemic’s onset, Indonesian news agency Antara quoted him as saying.
In the most recent case, authorities thwarted an attempt to send 52 illegal migrants, comprising 34 men, 17 women and a toddler, to Malaysia last Thursday.
Asahan police chief Putu Yudha Prawira said authorities arrested the captain of a nameless boat was set for Malaysia on January 6 at 8.30pm from Asahan waters in Sumatra.
The suspect and his three accomplices carried out the action on the order of a woman who said she would pay them five million rupiah.
The woman was found to have violated Law 18 of 2017 on employment protection, navigation laws and Law 21 of 2007 on the eradication of trafficking in persons.
She could face imprisonment (between three and 15 years) and fined up to 600 million rupiah, Putu Yudha said in a statement.
On the night of January 6, the navy acted upon a tip off that a boat was heading to Malaysia, Asahan navy fleet commander Arsyad Abdullah said.
“We captured the boat and brought it onshore at 3am,” he said, adding that his team will continue to conduct regular sea patrols in the area.
Police and the navy are still investigating other perpetrators connected with the smuggling ring. – Bernama, January 10, 2022
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