Dumai Police Reveals Structured Practice of Illegal PMI Delivery, Dozens of People Successfully Rescued

Dumai - The Dumai Police Criminal Investigation Unit has uncovered the practice of illegally placing Indonesian migrant workers through unofficial channels in the coastal area of Dumai City.

Director of Criminal Investigation of the Riau Police, Kombes Hasyim Risahondua, emphasized that this disclosure was proof of the seriousness of the police in cracking down on crimes that not only violated the law, but also threatened public safety.

According to him, this case is a tangible form of the state's presence in protecting its citizens from increasingly complex criminal practices.

"What we found in Dumai shows that the placement of migrant workers illegally is no longer a sporadic act, but has developed into a structured and systematic pattern," said Kombes Hasyim at a press conference at the Dumai Police, Thursday, April 23.

Hasyim said that the practice of illegally sending migrant workers was very dangerous. In addition to violating legal provisions, the victims are also vulnerable to exploitation, and even potentially become victims of human trafficking crimes.

Meanwhile, the Dumai Police Chief AKBP Angga Herlambang explained that the disclosure of this case began on Saturday, April 18 at around 15.00 WIB, when his party received information about a number of Indonesian migrant workers and foreign nationals who would be sent to Malaysia through an unofficial route in the Selinsing Beach area, Pelintung Village, Medang Kampai District.

Following up on the information, the Dumai Police Criminal Investigation Team immediately moved to the location and conducted a search in the coastal area.

At the location, officers found as many as 63 people who were gathering in the surrounding beach and forest areas, allegedly waiting to be picked up by speedboat to be sent to Malaysia.

"We immediately secured all of them and took them to the Dumai Police for further investigation," explained AKBP Angga.

From the results of the development, continued Angga, officers then conducted a search for a house on Jalan Meranti Darat, Dumai City, which was suspected of being used as a shelter or a resting house.

At the location, five Indonesian migrant workers were found again who were also suspected of being illegally deported.

In the process, the police managed to secure two suspects with initials MF and RGS. MF is known to have played a role as the party who accommodated the prospective migrant workers at the transit house before being sent out, while RGS played the role of a driver who picked up and transported migrant workers from outside the area to the shelter location to the departure point in the coastal area.

"The two suspects were secured on April 20, 2026 after previously fleeing. When they were secured, the two admitted their actions and were immediately taken to the Dumai Police for further investigation," said the Police Chief.

In addition to securing the suspects, the police also seized a number of evidence in the form of two Daihatsu Sigra cars used for transportation operations, as well as two mobile phones that were allegedly used in the illegal activity.

"The suspects are charged with Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, which prohibits anyone from recruiting, accommodating, or sending out migrant workers without a valid permit," said AKBP Angga.

According to AKBP Angga Herlambang, the coastal area of Dumai is one of the vulnerable points that are often used by perpetrators of crimes for illegal activities, so that surveillance will continue to be strengthened.

"We will increase patrols and surveillance in coastal areas as a preventive measure. This is a serious concern because it concerns the safety of the community," he said.

Kombes Hasyim appealed to the public not to be easily tempted by offers to work abroad through unofficial channels that promise a quick process and low costs.

"The public is asked to ensure that all processes are carried out through official procedures to ensure legal protection and safety in the destination country," said Kombes Hasyim.