Riau Police Failed To Send 5 Illegal PMIs To Malaysia

JAKARTA - The Riau Police continue to eradicate the practice of Trafficking in Persons (TPP). Recently, efforts to illegally send five Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) to Malaysia were thwarted.

Riau Police Criminal Investigation Director Kombes Asep Darmawan said the disclosure of the TIP case was the result of the operation which was held on Friday, August 1, 2025.

A suspect with the initials FDS (38), when he was about to take the victims to the departure point. The FDS is known to act as an introduction and temporary shelter for illegal PMIs.

The FDS suspect received an order from an agent with the initials H alias DL, who is currently in pursuit. He picked up five victims at the Dumai AKAP Terminal, then stayed them at the hotel before leaving," Asep told reporters, Monday, August 4.

The five victims who were rescued came from various regions in Sumatra, including Indragiri Hulu, Pariaman, North Tapanuli, and Deli Serdang.

All of them are productive age women who are promised jobs in Malaysia, but without official documents and procedures as stipulated in the labor law.

After being picked up separately, the victims were gathered at a restaurant on Jalan Janur Kuning, then kept at a hotel around Dumai.

The suspect picked them up again on Friday morning, before finally being secured by the police team. From the hands of the perpetrators, the police secured evidence in the form of a red cell phone and two pieces of transfer evidence allegedly related to recruitment transactions.

The suspect was charged with Article 2 or Article 4 in conjunction with Article 10 of Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons, as well as Article 5 in conjunction with Article 68 and Article 83 of Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers.

Asep explained that this case was part of a series of disclosures of people's trade by his party in recent months.

Since May 2025, the Ditreskrimum of the Riau Police has thwarted the shipment of 62 illegal PMIs and arrested six suspects.

"The method is the same, the victims were promised jobs as garden workers or household assistants in Malaysia. We make sure we will continue to pursue this network to the roots," said Asep.

Riau Police appealed to the public not to be tempted by offers to work abroad without official channels. If you find indications of alleged trafficking in persons, the public is asked to immediately report to the nearest police station or through the complaint channels provided.