Batam Immigration Detains Departure of 767 People Suspected of Being Illegal Migrant Workers

Illustration of illegal migrant worker (Antara)

JAKARTA - The Class I Immigration Office of the Batam Immigration Checkpoint (TPI), Riau Islands (Kepri), has postponed the departure of 767 people suspected of being illegal migrant workers in November 2024, as an effort to strengthen the prevention of Human Trafficking (TPPO).

Head of Batam Immigration Hajar Aswad in Batam said that efforts to strengthen the prevention of TPPO were carried out through strict supervision at international ports and airports.

"Currently, we have postponed the departure of 767 people from the port and airport checkpoints. In addition, this November there were 12 passport applications that we rejected or postponed the issuance, and we have submitted all reports to the center as part of prevention efforts," said Hajar, quoting Antara.

He said that this step was taken as a form of protection for the community so that they do not become victims of human trafficking or labor exploitation.

"Most of the prospective illegal migrant workers come from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and several provinces on the island of Java," he said.

Hajar said, as part of preventing TPPO, the Batam Immigration Office routinely monitors in the field, both at international crossings and passport issuance.

Previously, the Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Kabreskrim) of the Indonesian National Police, Commissioner General Wahyu Widada, said that there were three Regional Police that had uncovered a large number of cases of Human Trafficking (TPPO), one of which was the Riau Islands (Kepri) Regional Police.

"Over the past month, there have been three Regional Police that have uncovered quite a large number of cases, namely the Riau Islands, North Kalimantan, and West Kalimantan Regional Police," said Wahyu in a TPPO case release that was followed online from the Kepri Regional Police Headquarters, Batam City, Friday (11/22).

The three-star police general said that TPPO had become a concern not only in Indonesia, but also an international concern.

TPPO, he said, is a transnational crime and is usually also an organized crime in exploiting victims.