Three People Smuggling Routes from Indonesia Draw Attention at ASEAN Immigration Intelligence Forum

Aug 14, 2024

NHA TRANG, VIETNAM - During the ASEAN Immigration Intelligence Forum (AIIF) held on Tuesday, 13 August 2024, in Nha Trang, Vietnam, it was reported that as of 2024, the Directorate General of Immigration had postponed the issuance of 18,604 passports and halted the departure of 14,930 Indonesian migrant workers suspected of leaving the country through non-procedural means. This action aims to prevent human trafficking.

The AIIF is part of a series of events associated with the 27th Meeting of the Directors-General of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Divisions of Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) from 13-16 August 2024.

The Directorate General of Immigration identified several methods commonly used by migrant workers attempting to depart non-procedurally. These include the Special Job Fair Program for recruitment, the Umrah/hajj/pilgrimage modus, overseas internship agendas, and fake marriages.

Economic motives and social and familial pressures are believed to be critical factors contributing to the increase in the number of Indonesian citizens resorting to non-procedural means to work abroad.

Additionally, cases of online fraud related to human trafficking have spread beyond Southeast Asia. This issue has raised significant concern within the Indonesian government, as many citizens have fallen victim to such fraud. Identifying genuine victims versus those complicit in scams presents a unique challenge, as some Indonesian citizens knowingly participate in scamming activities.

From the cases investigated, the Directorate General of Immigration has discovered three primary smuggling routes for Indonesian migrant workers:

• The Jakarta route leads to Thailand and Cambodia.
• The Surabaya route departs to Vietnam and stops in Malaysia or Brunei Darussalam.
• The Medan route, which goes to Malaysia and Singapore.

In response, the Directorate General of Immigration has implemented several preventive measures, including tightening the verification process for passport issuance and enhancing immigration inspection supervision. Additionally, the Directorate exchanges information through the Foreigner Supervision Team (TIMPORA), engages in exit/entry preventive actions against individuals involved in People Smuggling Crimes and establishes an Immigration for Villages Development program.

The Directorate General of Immigration hopes that the forum will facilitate discussions around data exchange, including lists of wanted individuals, Foreign Terrorist Fighters (FTFs), people smugglers, and human traffickers.

Last updated 25 November 2024