Reveals Dozens Of Cases Of Trafficking In People In Riau Islands, Police Cooperate With ASEAN Countries

Illustration of human trafficking (ANTARA)

"BATAM - Riau Islands Police (Kepri) are collaborating with ASEAN countries in handling criminal acts of trafficking in persons (TPPO). The TIP case handled by the Riau Islands Police and the ranks for the period of 2022, namely 78 cases with the number of victims who were rescued, namely 642 victims with the number of suspects 139 people "This cooperation was carried out to uncover, prevent and break the chain of syndicates smuggling Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) illegally," he said The Head of Public Relations of the Riau Islands Police, Kombes Pol Jansen Avitus Panjaitan, was quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, May 31. He explained that cooperation with ASEAN countries for TIP handling has so far been very good. The National Police itself, he said, has an International Relations Division (Divhubinter) tasked with organizing 'national central bureau' (NCB)-Interpol activities, as an effort to tackle international and transnational crimes within bilateral and multilateral scopes. For example, Jansen said on the date January 7, 2022, the Riau Islands Regional Police and the National Police's Divhubinter in collaboration with the Malaysian Imigresen and the Malaysian Royal Police conducted a process of investigating illegal PMI cases in Malaysia, identifying and repatriating the bodies of Indonesian citizens (WNI) victims of sinking ships in the Johor Bahru area, Malaysia. "Of course this activity is carried out thanks to good relations established between countries through state consultants and police consuls," he said. The Riau Islands Regional Police, his party has also made various efforts, namely providing appeals through the mass media and posting appeal banners in several locations. His party also cooperates and coordinates with the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), the Police Divhubinter and other relevant agencies in preventing handling and legal action. We are also implementing FGD (Focus Group Discussion) to increase the role of the community in anticipating the role of the community "Illegal PMI delivery activities in the Riau Islands region," he said. According to him, this is quite efficient, with the reduced number of cases carried out by his party in the period 2022 and 2023. "The number of disclosures of TIP cases handled by the Riau Islands Police and the ranks within 2022 is 78 cases with 642 victims who were rescued, with 139 suspects. Meanwhile, for the period of 2023 (January-May) there were 27 cases, 87 people. the victim with 42 suspects, "he said.

For this reason, he also appealed to the entire community not to be deceived by the lure of a high amount of salary if they work abroad without following applicable procedures. "I appeal to the public to ensure that labor service providers are registered and have official permits. Do not be easily lured with a large amount of salary and if you want to work abroad, go through the right process and procedures to get full legal protection," said Jansen.