Dumai Police Thwart The Smuggling Of 25 Illegal Migrant Workers To Malaysia

Illegal migrant workers who were detained at the Dumai Police Headquarters during the case exposure, (photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Riau Regional Police (Polda) thwarted the smuggling of illegal migrants from Dumai City and Bengkalis Regency to Malaysia. The reason is, there are as many as 25 illegal migrants who become prospective workers in the neighboring country.

Dumai Police Chief AKBP Nurhadi Ismanto explained, initially Riau Police Ditintelkam officers arrested 15 prospective migrant workers in Pelinting Village, Medang Kampai District, Dumai City, who previously fled when they were about to be arrested.

Moments earlier, the police had also arrested 10 potential migrant workers from Indonesia, bringing the total to 25 people from various regions in Indonesia.

"They came from Sulawesi, Aceh, West Nusa Tenggara, and the city of Medan," said the Head of Police, Nurhadi, quoting Antara.

The prospective illegal migrant workers without official documents will be smuggled to Malaysia by sea.

Meanwhile, the evidence that was also secured was five passports.

Based on these disclosures, the police have not succeeded in arresting the suspect carrying the illegal worker candidate.

"The suspect is still under investigation," said the police chief.

The day before, the police also succeeded in uncovering a case of allegedly placing 30 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) without legal or illegal conditions, Wednesday (15/3).

The arrest was based on information from the public that a house on Jalan Merpati, Jaya Mukti Village, Dumai City, was allegedly used as a shelter for illegal PMIs.

Inside the rented house there were 30 PMI people who had just returned from Malaysia and entered Indonesia through unofficial or illegal routes because they did not have valid documents to work.

In this case, the police arrested RAS (40) who turned out to have repeatedly arranged for, accommodated, and picked up illegal PMIs on orders from BB (31) who is now on the People Wanted List (DPO).

Now all illegal PMIs and RAS (40) have been secured at the Dumai Police Headquarters for further investigation.

Furthermore, the Dumai Police will also coordinate with the Dumai City Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP2MI) regarding the handling and repatriation of the 30 PMI people.

In order to be held accountable for his actions, RAS (40) will be charged under Article 120 Paragraph (1) of RI Law No. 06 of 2011 concerning Immigration with a minimum prison sentence of five years and a maximum of fifteen years," said the Chief of Police.

Furthermore, the Dumai Police Chief also appealed to all Indonesian people, especially the City of Dumai, if they wish to become PMI candidates working abroad to go through official channels set by the Indonesian government and complete documents as PMI candidates.

"We also ask the people of Dumai City if they become aware of an illegal placement of a PMI candidate or know of a group of people gathering temporarily and suspiciously to immediately report it to the local authorities," he appealed.