Ditpolairud Polda Kaltara Fails To Smuggle PMI To Malaysia

The Directorate of Water and Air Police (Ditpolairud) of the North Kalimantan Police (Kaltara), succeeded in thwarting an attempt to smuggle Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) in Tarakan waters.

The Head of the Kaltara Regional Police, Inspector General Hary Sudwijanto, through the Director of Police of the North Kalimantan Police, Kombes Bambang Wiriawan, emphasized that this operation was carried out by the Ditpolairud Polda Kaltara as well as proving the police's commitment to fighting transnational crimes that threaten the sovereignty and protection of citizens.

"From the PMI smuggling case, we have secured three perpetrators with the initials A, W and A and named as suspects," said the Director of Police of North Kalimantan, Thursday, September 12.

"In this operation, the police confiscated several pieces of evidence, including 1 speedboat with a Suzuki 175 driving engine and 1 blue Avanza car, which has been prepared to transport the victims. The number of PMIs is 21 adults and 1 child," he continued.

The disclosure of the case began with information from the public about suspicious activities on Monday, September 2, 2024, at around 06.00 WITA.

The information stated that there were individuals who carried out the management of the departure of a number of people who were suspected of being smuggled out of Indonesian or Malaysian territory illegally.

"Receiving this information, the personnel of the Ditpolairud Polda Kaltara immediately carried out monitoring. Then on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at 07.00 WITA, it was found that there was a red and white speedboat in the Airport River which was suspected to be carrying people who would be smuggled. A blue Avanza car was known to take potential victims to the speedboat," he explained.

After confirming this activity, the Intel Air Unit together with the Tarakan Police Satpolair launched a pursuit of the vehicle involved.

The success of this pursuit resulted in securing the speedboat around the waters of the Iron Bridge, Tarakan City.

"Furthermore, the North Kalimantan Police Ditpolairud secured the perpetrators and evidence, as well as carried out interrogations of them," he explained.

Efforts to prevent PMI smuggling are a priority in border areas, the need for stricter border supervision and more efficient coordination between all parties.

"Now that the perpetrators have been detained at the Mako Polsirud Polda Kaltara, they are suspected of violating Article 120 paragraph 1 of Law NO. 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code and or Article 81 in conjunction with Article 69 of Law No. 18 of 2017 concerning the protection of Indonesian migrant workers in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 to 1 of the Criminal Code," he explained.