The Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police in Tangerang, Banten, stopped the departure of 10 Indonesian migrant workers who were being trafficked to Cambodia.
The Head of the Criminal Investigation Unit, Commissioner Yandri Mono, said the case began when police arrested two recruiters who were accompanying the undocumented workers during their travel process. The suspects guided the group from preparation until their attempted departure.
Investigations later revealed that three of the workers had previously worked in Cambodia as online gambling administrators. One of them was even declared a suspect for recruiting another victim to join him in the same job.
Mono explained that the recruitment was carried out through social media, especially Facebook groups, where the victims did not know each other. They were lured with offers of high salaries ranging from Rp10-20 million (US$591–1,182) per month. After contacting the recruiter, the victims were asked to provide personal data and documents for passport applications. Surprisingly, they were not asked to pay any fees but instead received help, including assistance in getting passports.
Second Inspector Herman Slamet, Head of Unit I Jatanras at Soekarno-Hatta Airport Police, said the case was uncovered during a patrol at Terminal 2 International Departures on August 26. Officers became suspicious after spotting 10 young men aged between 23 and 30. They were preparing to board Viet Jet Air flight VJ 854 on the Jakarta–Ho Chi Minh route, with Cambodia as their final destination, where they had been promised work as online gambling administrators.
Further checks showed that three of them had already worked in Cambodia before and had only returned to Indonesia on leave. They later invited other victims to join them.
According to Slamet, the suspects are now facing charges under Law Number 18 of 2017 on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. They are also charged under Law Number 21 of 2007 on the Eradication of Human Trafficking, which carries a maximum of 15 years in prison.
This case highlights the dangers of human trafficking and how traffickers are using social media to lure young Indonesians with false promises of high-paying jobs abroad.