Indonesia discovers three human trafficking rings in border areas

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD announced on April 6 that competent agencies had discovered three human trafficking rings in border areas, mostly in north Sumatra, Riau and Kalimantan islands.

These rings conduct human trafficking activities both through "back-door" channels for undocumented victims and "front-door" channels via international ports. Bar codes on the cargo declaration form are also used to mark which trafficking victims will pass through the port, he said.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry announced that as many as 752 victims were trafficked in Indonesia last year, doubling that in 2021.

Under the Indonesian Law on Protection of Migrant Workers, international human trafficking offenders could face a maximum jail sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of 15 billion rupiah (approximately 1 million USD)./.

VNA