Bid TIK Polda Kepri – Jakarta. The East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Regional Police General Criminal Investigation Directorate has apprehended the mastermind behind the smuggling of 15 Bangladeshi. The man in question is PT or also known as Panji (39).
The Head of NTT Regional Police Public Relations Division, Senior Superintendent Henry Novika Chandra confirmed the news and explained that in November 2024, two Indonesian crew members smuggled 41 Bangladeshi citizens using a ship through Indonesian waters to Australia without official travel documents and without going through the immigration checkpoint (TPI).
On the way, the two Indonesian crew members fled using a speedboat, leaving the ship which was then controlled by one of the Bangladeshi nationals. However, when approaching the waters of Natal Island, the ship was intercepted by the Australian Border Force (ABF). As a result, 15 Bangladeshi nationals out of 41 others were repatriated to Indonesia on a ship piloted by PT.
Upon arrival in Indonesia, PT dropped off 15 Bangladeshi nationals at Hena Beach, Kolobolon Village, Lobalain District, Rote Ndao Regency, before fleeing using the ship.
After conducting an investigation and coordinating with the Bali Regional Police, the NTT Regional Police’s joint team managed to track down the suspects in Karangasem Regency, Bali.
The team worked together with the Karangasem Sub-regional Police Criminal Investigation Unit and arrested PT while he was bidding on a canoe made by a local resident. After being secured, the suspect was taken to the Karangasem Sub-regional Police Criminal Investigation Unit for questioning, then flown to the NTT Regional Police on Friday (1/31/2025).
“For his actions, the suspect was charged with Article 120 Paragraph (1) of Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration in conjunction with Article 55 Paragraph (1) Ke-1 of the Criminal Code. He faces a minimum prison sentence of 5 years and a maximum of 15 years,” explained the Head of Public Relations of the NTT Regional Police.
A number of witnesses have been questioned in this case, including the Head of Kolobolon Village, the first eyewitness, several Bangladeshi nationals, and expert witnesses from Immigration.
Henry emphasized that his party will continue to take firm action against all forms of human smuggling crimes that are detrimental to Indonesia and the international community.
