Indonesia’s commitment to preventing human trafficking is part of a broader, national initiative to address the growing problem. According to the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), human trafficking cases have become a significant concern, with certain regions, including Batam, emerging as key points for both transit and departure for illegal migrant workers.

As part of the continued efforts to combat human trafficking, the Batam Immigration Office works closely with national and international law enforcement agencies. “We regularly monitor international crossings and passport issuance as part of our ongoing efforts to prevent human trafficking,” Hajar added. The government has been actively pursuing more stringent checks to ensure that migrant workers are employed legally and not subjected to unsafe or exploitative working conditions.

The Indonesian authorities’ concerns about human trafficking are shared globally. The head of Bareskrim, Police Commissioner General Wahyu Widada, recently pointed out that human trafficking is not just a domestic issue but a global concern. He noted that three regional police forces, including the Kepulauan Riau Police, have uncovered a significant number of human trafficking cases, further highlighting the scale of the problem.

In the past month, the Kepulauan Riau Police have become one of the top law enforcement agencies in tackling human trafficking, contributing to a national effort to curb these transnational crimes. Wahyu stated that human trafficking is often part of organized crime networks that exploit victims for forced labor or other forms of exploitation, such as sex trafficking. This serious issue requires coordinated action both domestically and internationally.

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