MEDAN — The vigilance of an intended human trafficking victim led to the interception of an operation that nearly transported him into a transnational online fraud network. The Deli Serdang Police acted rapidly upon receiving a report from the victim’s family, completing the apprehension moments before the flight departed from Kualanamu International Airport.
The victim, identified as SAH (29), a resident of Tanjung Balai, was initially promised employment in Medan. However, suspicion arose when he realized the travel itinerary was directed abroad, with strong indications of being deployed as an online scam operator. Upon identifying these irregularities, SAH contacted his family to request immediate assistance.
Last-Minute Interception at Departure Area
Head of Criminal Investigation at Deli Serdang Police, Police Commissioner Muhammad Isral, explained that the family’s report was immediately relayed to officers deployed at the airport terminal. Swift coordination between the family and law enforcement proved decisive in securing the victim before he crossed international borders.
Officers apprehended a 41-year-old man identified as W, a resident of Medan suspected of acting as the dispatch agent, in the departure area alongside the victim right before boarding. Investigators confiscated passports belonging to both the suspect and the victim, as well as flight tickets as physical evidence to dissect the broader network.
Countering Transnational Crime
Commissioner Isral added that recruitment schemes disguised as domestic job opportunities leading to overseas exploitation are established patterns. Conflict zones in Myanmar frequently serve as final destinations for victims recruited from various provinces, including North Sumatra.
This rapid operational turnaround reflects the core mandate of the Quick Response Unit (URC) established across regional commands. Such decisive action at critical junctions embodies the principle of #ReserseBekerja, ensuring that potential transnational offenses are effectively neutralized.
Source: IDNtimes, Kompas, Viva