Lanal Dumai Secures 40 Illegal PMIs Returning From Malaysia

As many as 40 Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) who were secured by Lanal Dumai were dispatched to Pekanbaru for repatriation. ANTARA/HO-Lanal Dumai

Dumai Navy, Riau, has arrested 40 illegal Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) returning from Malaysia via illegal and non-procedural routes on Pelintung Beach, Medang Kampai District.

The Joint Team for Lanal Dumai's Quick Response and the Koarmada I Opstelmar Task Force found dozens of PMIs from Aceh, Medan, and Jambi. They were in an oil palm plantation waiting to be picked up to be taken to the Dumai Bus Terminal.

The Commander of the Dumai Navy Base, Marine Colonel (P) Boy Yopi Hamel, explained the initial disclosure of the repatriation of 32 male PMIs and eight women who departed from one of the ports in Malaysia because there was information from the public.

The team then chased to the location of the return by sea in the waters of Rupat, Bengkalis Regency and the coast of Pelintung Beach, Dumai City.

"The marine team saw a speedboat passing through the Rupat waters leading to the Pelintung Coast. Members on the ground combed the oil palm forest and found dozens of PMIs suspected of being non-procedural and waiting for pick-up cars," said Colonel Boy Yopi as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, March 6.

After being secured, Lanal Dumai checked the health and data collection and examined the luggage of dozens of Indonesians.

From the initial examination, as many as 40 non-procedural PMIs were known to depart from the shelter located in Kajang Semenyih City, Malaysia.

The journey to Dumai by sea was taken for 2 hours using a high speed crane with a capacity of three outboard engines and manned by two crew members.

Each PMI is known to have to spend between Rp. 4 million and Rp. 5 million, plus paying Rp. 100,000 per person to agents upon arrival at the beach.

"They came home choosing this illegal route because most of the passports were dead and the high cost for managing the extension of the residence permit or permid," said Danlanal.

The results of the examination of luggage, no prohibited objects were found, and all PMIs were in good health. They were then handed over to the Dumai City Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Service (P4MI) for further processing.

"Together with PMI residents, 27 passports of evidence were also secured, 34 electronic identity cards, and 50 mobile phones," he added.