Dumai Immigration Secures 26 Foreigners Trying To Cross To Malaysia

PEKANBARU - The Immigration Office Class I TPI Dumai secured 26 foreign nationals (WNA) consisting of 17 from Myanmar and nine from Bangladesh who tried to cross into Malaysia illegally through the rat route.

The arrests began with reports from the public who suspected that the foreigner's illegal activities and involving the security forces of their actions could be prevented.

"The FIQR team Lanal Dumai and the Koarmada I Ops Task Force arrested 24 foreigners on the Pelintung Coast, Medang Kampai District, while the other two were handed over by the Medang Kampai Police," said Head of the Immigration Office Class I TPI Dumai, Ricky Rachmawan, to reporters in Dumai, Saturday.

Ricky said nine Bangladeshi citizens entered Indonesia via Soekarno-Hatta International Airport using a visit visa, but they wanted to continue their journey illegally to Malaysia.

Head of the Riau Ministry of Law and Human Rights Regional Office, Budi Argap, appreciated the work of the Dumai Immigration Office and law enforcement officers who thwarted the illegal crossing of the foreigner.

"The border area between Indonesia and Malaysia and Singapore is vulnerable to smuggling practices. I ask the public and fishermen to actively report all suspicious activities, so that we can act quickly," he said.

Budi said his party immediately mapped the rat lanes that smugglers often use. "We will coordinate with law enforcement officials to minimize the space for criminals to move and protect the public from the impact of smuggling," he said.

Budi led a joint operation of immigration surveillance in Dumai waters, specifically in the Malacca Strait, involving the Indonesian Navy, the Indonesian Army, Polairud and the Quarantine Center, in order to detect the potential for immigration violations of foreigners early.

During this activity, his party operated the Patrol Vessel Pura Ksatria Selat Panjang, as well as strengthened supervision in the waters, especially in the Panjang Strait area.

Dumai City has a strategic position because it is directly facing the Malacca Strait, a sea traffic lane that is so busy that Dumai is a point prone to various violations of the law, including immigration violations.

With the combined operation and support of new patrol boats, it is hoped that immigration surveillance in the Riau region, especially in Dumai waters, can be effective and able to prevent various forms of violations of the law.