Indonesian Navy uncovers human trafficking on the sea
Team Western Fleet Quick Response (WFQR) of the Indonesian Navy in Tanjung Pinang in Riau Islands caught a boat carrying 40 people headed to Malaysia in Batam waters on Tuesday night.
The people were being sent to be illegally employed to clean ship tanks in Malaysian waters.
Tanjung Pinang Navy base commander Commodore S. Irawan said Wednesday they caught three boats, but two boats managed to escape, carrying 30 people.
“This is the work of a human trafficking syndicate. We caught them because they used substandard boats, they could not produce working permits and travel permits,” Irawan said.
The Navy received information from the suspects that the workers were between 18 to 40 years old, and they would clean tanks on ships for Rp 180,000 (US$13.50) per day.
Five people have been named suspects in the case, Irawan said. “We are submitting the case to the police.”
Irawan said they had also contacted authorities in Malaysia and Singapore to help investigate the human trafficking ring. (evi)