Jakarta, IO – The police in Katapang Condong Village, Sukabumi (West Java) managed to find the hideout of foreigners suspected of being victims of smuggling. A total of four Bangladeshi were arrested.
Head of Criminal Investigation Superintendent Ali Jupri said they were victims of human trafficking who were promised jobs in Australia, per Detikcom, Tue (28/11).
“This group of foreigners is thought to be leaving for Australia via the Palabuhanratu. The modus operandi involves an agent or sponsor with the initials H, a Bangladeshi citizen. The four victims, MA, MU, MMR and MS, have paid a certain amount of money to be taken to Australia with the aim of working in fruit and vegetable farms,” explained Ali.
According to Ali, the four people have now been handed over to the Sukabumi immigration office and are currently being held in the immigtation dentention center. They are aged between 22 to 58.
Meanwhile, Head of Sukabumi Immigration Intelligence Division Samuel Arisandi explained that the four foreigners initially came from Malaysia via sea route to Medan.
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“After Medan, we went to Surabaya and Sukabumi. They have been in Sukabumi for two weeks and during that time their communication with someone (agent or sponsor with the initials H) was only via cellphone,” added Samuel.
Furthermore, the four foreigners will be detained for a maximum of 30 days before they can be handed over to the Bangladesh embassy. (bp)