5 Facts About Australian Citizens Illegally Entering Papua Who Turned Out to Be City Detainees

Three Australian citizens (AC) were secured by the Directorate General (Dirjen) of Immigration for entering Indonesia via Merauke illegally. They are DTL, ZA, and JVD. One of them is the pilot of the aircraft they were on, namely JVD. In this case, DTL and ZA were assisted by JVD to reach Merauke by performing an illegal entry. “All three are Australian citizens, these two as the main perpetrators of the illegal entry, one assisting, namely a pilot (JVD), also an Australian citizen,” said the Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko, during a press conference at the Dirjen Immigration Office on Thursday (9/4/2026). Here are several facts: 1. Passengers Not Matching the Manifest The case began when PT Angkasa Nusantara Aviasi or ANA sent the aircraft manifest to PT Garuda Angkasa’s Merauke branch. It stated the arrival of a Piper PA23 250 Aztec type aircraft with registration number VH-EQD from Coen Airport, Australia, to Mopah Airport on 16 November 2025 at 13:34 WIT. However, the details indicated only one pilot and one passenger. Then, when the aircraft landed at Mopah Airport, Merauke, it was discovered that the passengers inside did not match the description, leading to their detention by officers. The pilot of the aircraft is Australian citizen with initials JVD. The co-pilot is an Indonesian citizen (IC). Based on initial examination results, the aircraft departed from Cairns International Airport, Australia, destined for Mopah Airport, Merauke. Before transiting at Coen Airport, the aircraft transited at Port Stewart Airport, Australia, which is an airstrip without immigration officers, to pick up two other Australian citizens. “Two passengers without valid travel documents and visas that are still valid, and their names not listed in the flight manifest under the names ZA and DTL, who were then detained in the detection room of the Merauke Immigration Office,” he said. 2. Detained Since Early Last Year Hendarsam said the three were detained since early last year. They violated regulations and will face criminal sanctions. “Three Australian foreign nationals with initials ZA, DTL, and JVD who have been detained since 2 December 2025 by the Directorate General of Immigration on suspicion of immigration criminal acts under Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration,” he said. 3. No Travel Documents and Visas Hendarsam stated that the Australians violated Article 119 paragraph 1 of the Immigration Law that every foreigner entering and/or staying in Indonesian territory without valid and still valid travel documents and visas. They also violated Article 119 paragraph 1 and/or Article 114 paragraph 2 of the Immigration Law in conjunction with Article 56 paragraph 2 of the Criminal Code as amended by Article 21 paragraph 1 letter A of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the new Criminal Code. “In simple terms, they violated, committed illegal entry. Entering unlawfully,” he explained. 4. Handed Over to the Prosecutor’s Office The three Australian citizens were handed over to the Prosecutor’s Office to undergo the judicial process. In addition to the three, Immigration also submitted several pieces of evidence. “Regarding the three Australian foreign nationals along with the evidence, they will be handed over to the Merauke District Prosecutor’s Office to undergo the judicial process,” said Hendarsam Marantoko during a press conference at Dirjen Immigration, South Jakarta, on Thursday (9/4/2026). During the investigation period, the three suspects were placed in Salemba Detention Centre, Central Jakarta. After the investigation file is declared complete, the suspects along with the evidence will be handed over to the Merauke District Prosecutor’s Office to undergo the judicial process. Immigration also coordinated with the Australian government. Because there is one Indonesian citizen pilot still under investigation development. “We are coordinating with the Australian government regarding the involvement of the aviation company named Stirling Helicopters, which leads to criminal proceedings against the company owner,” he said. For that action, ZA and DTL are charged with Article 119 paragraph (1) of Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration for entering Indonesia without valid documents. Meanwhile, the pilot, JVD, is charged with multiple articles for his role in providing facilities or assistance in the criminal act. 5. 2 Australian Citizens Are City Detainees Meanwhile, the Director of Supervision and Enforcement of Immigration at Dirjen Immigration, Yuldi Yusman, stated that the two people transported by the pilot turned out to have city detainee status. Both attempted to enter Indonesia illegally because they wanted to escape. “We can state here that the individuals have a status—if in our terms, equivalent to city detainees, yes. In English, on bail. In criminal cases in Australia,” he added. According to Yuldi, the motive of the two city detainees to Indonesia was to escape. Both wanted to avoid the ongoing legal process. “So, they came here, of course, talking about the motive, namely wanting to escape from the legal process they are undergoing in Australia. Initials ZA and DTL,” he said.