International Network, Police Reveal Smuggling Of 12 Bangladeshi Foreigners To Kupang

Illustration of human trafficking (ANTARA)

KUPANG - Sub-Directorate IV of the East Nusa Tenggara Police's Trafficking Crime Unit (TPPO) together with Bareskrim investigated the perpetrators of smuggling 12 foreigners from Bangladesh who were secured by police officers in Kupang, on Wednesday, August 6.

"The perpetrator of smuggling is still under investigation by the Sub-Directorate IV of the TIP Unit in Surabaya," said Director of General Criminal Investigation of the NTT Police, Kombes Pol Patar Silalahi, quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, August 7.

He said the 12 foreigners were secured at a hotel in Kupang City, after reports and investigations were carried out in the last few days.

His party confirmed that a number of foreigners from Bangladesh were victims of trafficking in persons.

From the results of the examination, it was known that the 12 Bangladeshi foreigners entered Indonesia not through official channels, even though they had immigration passports or documents in accordance with applicable regulations.

Patar added that the foreigners were known to be in a hotel in Kupang City, after his party received information from civilians in Kupang City.

"So they entered Kupang 3 or 4 days ago and stayed at the hotel," he added.

A number of foreigners from the results of the examination were also known to have been smuggled from Malaysia to the island of Sumatra by sea.

When crossing they are also not equipped with official documents. From Sumatra they then left for Surabaya by sea.

"In Surabaya they stay for approximately five months," he said.

The police, he said, are still taking information from the foreigners, to reveal where they were going after arriving in Kupang City. Whether to Australia or to other countries, he said, information was still being taken by the relevant police team.