Soekarno-Hatta Airport Foils 137 Illegal Migrant Worker Departures

Tangerang: Immigration authorities at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Soetta) have prevented the departure of 137 prospective migrant workers suspected of attempting to leave Indonesia through non-procedural channels during the Christmas and New Year holiday period.

The Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office, Galih Kartika Perdhana, said the individuals intended to travel to several destinations in Asia and the Middle East, including Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar—countries considered vulnerable to illegal migrant worker placement.

“They all claimed to be tourists travelling for holidays,” Galih said on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, as quoted by Antara.

However, further examination by immigration officers revealed strong indications that the travelers were non-procedural migrant workers.

“They were unable to clearly explain the purpose of their trips, including the duration of stay and accommodation details,” he said.

Galih noted that from January through December 29, 2025, Soekarno-Hatta Immigration prevented the departure of 2,917 passengers. Of that number, 1,905 were identified as non-procedural migrant workers and potential victims of human trafficking or people smuggling.

Meanwhile, Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Checkpoint Division Jerry Prima said detection efforts have become increasingly challenging, as prospective migrant workers are more familiar with inspection patterns.

Despite this, immigration officers continue to implement a two-layer screening system, combining physical observation, brief interviews, and the use of the Subject of Interest (SOI) database. Key indicators include suspicious behavior, inconsistent statements, and the inability to provide clear travel plans.

Throughout 2025, the Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office also rejected 197 passport applications suspected to be linked to human trafficking and people smuggling.

“Soekarno-Hatta Immigration remains committed to tightening supervision and increasing vigilance to protect Indonesian citizens from exploitation and human trafficking, especially during long holiday periods such as Christmas and New Year,” Prima said.