Illegal PMI Shipments In Tanjung Balai Thwarted, There Was A Baby On The Ship

Dozens of illegal workers were secured in the waters of Tanjung Balai, Asahan Regency, North Sumatra (doc North Sumatra Police)

The National Police thwarted an attempt to smuggle illegal Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) in Tanjung Balai Waters, Asahan Regency, North Sumatra. A total of 29 people were rescued

"The Air Patrol Sub-Directorate Team of the Ditpolair Korpolairud Baharkam Polri succeeded in thwarting the smuggling attempt of 29 Indonesian Migrant Workers," said Director of the Waters Police Korpolairud Baharkam Polri, Brigadier General Idil Tabransyah in his statement, Thursday, September 25.

Of the dozens of people, only 19 are Indonesian citizens (WNI). While the rest are citizens of Banglades. Sadly, of the dozens of people, one of them has a baby.

"In law enforcement operations that took place at sea, officers secured a number of individuals who wanted to be illegally dispatched to Malaysia," he said.

In addition, the police also arrested a tekong boat with the initials MFL (21), a resident of Teluk Nibung, Tanjung Balai, along with evidence in the form of 1 unit of an unnamed motorboat with a 4-cylindrical Hyundai engine and 1 unit of Redmi mobile phone.

This step, said Idil, is the National Police's commitment to take firm action against the practice of human trafficking and sending illegal PMIs, especially by sea.

"We will continue to strive to eradicate the syndicate of sending illegal migrant workers. This is not only a matter of law enforcement, but also about the protection of Indonesian citizens and state sovereignty," said Idil.

Currently, all prospective illegal migrant workers have been handed over to relevant agencies for further data collection and handling in accordance with applicable procedures.

Meanwhile, the suspect MFL was charged with Article 83 in conjunction with Article 68 and Article 81 in conjunction with Article 69 of Law no. 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, as well as Article 120 of Law no. 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration which has been amended by Law no. 63 of 2024, in conjunction with Article 55 or Article 56 of the Criminal Code.

"If found guilty, he faces up to 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp. 15 billion," said Idil.