17 Perpetrators Of TIP African - Southeast Asian Network Arrested By Soetta Airport Police

Soekarno Hatta Airport Police arrested 17 perpetrators of criminal acts of selling people (TPPO). Photo: IST

TANGERANG - Soekarno Hatta Airport Police arrested 17 perpetrators of the crime of selling people (TPPO). Dozens of people were arrested during the January-July 2023 period from reports received by the police.

"There are 17 suspects who have been processed now. We have handed over 3 suspects to the prosecutor's office to continue the trial and prosecution process. (Meanwhile) We have rescued 374 people," said Soekarno Hatta Airport Police Chief, Kombes Roberto Pasaribu to reporters, Friday, July 14.

Roberto also said that of the hundreds of PMIs who were rescued when they were about to be dispatched to the three areas that were targeted by the TIP syndicate suspects. The areas are Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

In addition, those who want to be dispatched by illegal PMI are spread across 11 regions in Indonesia. The mode is in various ways, starting from being lured to working as household assistants, online gambling admins, and restaurant workers.

"The provinces are the most victims from West Java, Bengkulu, DKI Jakarta, Lampung, and South Sumatra," he said.

Ditambahkan, Kasat Reskrim Polresta Bandara Soekarno-Hatta, Kompol Reza Fahlevi mengatakan, pihaknya mengklasifikasi 3 klaster pengiriman negara tujuan para korban PMI ilegal atau TIP tersebut. Bahkan, ada satu pengiriman yang ke negara berkonflik yakni Sudan.

"Giving to Southeast Asia, the most targeted countries are Cambodia, Malaysia, and Vietnam. The syndicates of the second shipment to the Middle East, are mostly to Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi. And in Africa there are most destinations to Sudan. Sudan itself is still raging war," explained Reza.

Therefore, this must be the state's attention in handling the TIP. He said that his party would continue to collaborate with the Immigration of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) regarding the problem.

"This is a form of our seriousness in taking firm action against non-procedural departure activities and also preventing TIP," he said.

For his actions, these 17 suspects were charged with Article 83 in conjunction with Article 68 and/or Article 81 in conjunction with Article 69 of the Republic of Indonesia Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Article 83 of any person who does not meet the requirements as referred to in Article 68 which intentionally carries out the placement of PMI, shall be sentenced to a maximum imprisonment of 10 years in prison.