Paying IDR 79 MILLION, Indonesian And Bangladeshi Illegal Workers Failed To Be Smuggled Into Malaysia

A number of non-procedural PMIs and Bangladeshi foreigners were secured by the Indonesian Navy when they were about to be smuggled into Malaysia through Batam waters, Riau Islands, Sunday (31/3/2024). (ANTARA)

TANJUNGPINANG - The Indonesian Navy Task Force Team from the IV Batam Navy Main Base (Lantamal), Riau Islands (Kepri), succeeded in thwarting the smuggling of prospective Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) and foreigners from Bangladesh to Malaysia.

"Eight illegal PMI candidates were arrested, each consisting of four Bangladeshi foreigners, three Indonesian citizens from Lombok and a tekong with the initials S alias A (30 years)," said Commander of Lantamal IV Batam, First Admiral TNI Tjatur Soniarto, Monday, April 1.

Admiral Tjatur said that during the failure, they were in a speedboat or speedboat with a engine of 40 and 15 PK.

From the information obtained, he said, for one person who will be dispatched to Malaysia, a fee of Rp. 13 million to Rp. 18 million for Indonesian citizens is set.

Meanwhile, four non-procedural foreigners from Bangladesh were asked for funds of around Rp. 79 million each by tekong domiciled in Batam.

He explained that initially the task force team received information that there would be illegal departure of PMI candidates from the people's port of Dapur 12 Sagulung to Geranging Island in Behind Padang District, last Sunday.

Furthermore, reconnaissance and the team saw that there was a fast boat with a 40 PK engine and 15 PK entering the Charcoal Kitchen River and the team immediately pursued the ship.

"Finally, our team managed to secure eight people related to the smuggling of non-procedural workers to Malaysia, each with the initials S, N, S, M, JI, R, ZK and M," he said.

He conveyed that the three non-procedural PMI candidates and a tekong were handed over to the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Service Center (BP3MI). Meanwhile, the workers of foreigners from Bangladesh were handed over to the Immigration Office to be sent back to their area of origin.

On a separate occasion, the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy (Kasal) Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali has emphasized that all ranks of Indonesian Navy soldiers must always increase operational preparedness and respond quickly to the information received and carry out cooperation and synergize with related agencies to ensure security.

"Especially in border areas such as Riau Islands, prone to smuggling illegal workers into neighboring countries, Malaysia," he said.