Ministry of Immigration and Corrections
Directorate General of Immigration
NHA TRANG, VIETNAM - The establishment of a human smuggling modus operandi database for ASEAN nations, to be shared among member countries, was one of the key recommendations made during the 3rd Meeting of Heads of Specialist Units on People Smuggling (3rd HSU) held in Nha Trang, Vietnam, on August 13, 2024.
The HSU serves as a preliminary forum within the framework of the 27th Meeting of Directors General of Immigration and Heads of Consular Affairs for Southeast Asia. This meeting, known as the ASEAN Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM), took place from August 13 to 16, 2024.
Colonel Dang Tuan Viet, the Deputy Director-General of the Vietnam Immigration Department, led the forum, which focused on deepening cooperation in addressing human smuggling issues in Southeast Asia.
"One of the factors contributing to the rise in people smuggling cases in Southeast Asia is that many ASEAN countries serve as transit points for individuals being smuggled to Europe," said Colonel Dang Tuan Viet.
During the forum, representatives from 11 ASEAN countries agreed on several initiatives, including the exchange of intelligence data, enhanced meetings at the investigator level, the creation of the database, and collaborative training related to handling digital evidence and data analysis concerning human smuggling.
The Directorate General of Immigration reported that in 2023 and 2024, Indonesian authorities dealt with eight human smuggling cases. The incidents in 2023 occurred in Tangerang (Banten), Entikong (West Kalimantan), and Nunukan (East Kalimantan). In 2024, cases were reported in Langsa (Aceh), Medan (North Sumatra), Tanjung Balai Asahan (Riau Islands), and Sukabumi (West Java). These cases were successfully thwarted thanks to collaboration with both domestic and international law enforcement agencies.
In closing, the Directorate General of Immigration reiterated its commitment to inviting all ASEAN countries to unite in the fight against human smuggling, thereby enhancing national security and protection.
Last updated 25 November 2024
