Alor Police Hand Over 16 Uzbek Nationals to Kupang Immigration
The Alor Police have handed over 16 Uzbek nationals to the Kupang Class I Immigration Office for further processing in accordance with immigration regulations. The group was found stranded on the coast of Air Panas Village, Pantar District, Alor Regency.
Head of Public Relations for the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Police, Senior Commissioner Henry Novika Chandra, stated that the 16 foreign nationals arrived at the Kupang Immigration Office on Thursday evening after undergoing initial examinations at the Alor Police. They were discovered by a fisherman while walking along the coast of Air Panas Village, Bandar Hamlet, on 3 July.
Henry explained that the fisherman reported the discovery to the police. Personnel from the Pantar Police, together with local government and related agencies, then went to the location to evacuate them, provide humanitarian assistance, and conduct initial examinations. Based on these initial checks, the foreigners claimed they had been sailing on a motorboat to an unknown destination. However, the boat suffered engine failure, drifted, and eventually ran aground in the Alor Regency area.
In addition to checking their identities, officers also verified their immigration documents. The initial results indicated that most of them are suspected of committing administrative immigration violations, specifically overstaying their residence permits. Authorities are also tracking an Indonesian national suspected of acting as the skipper or organiser of the group’s journey.
Following their examination at the Alor Police, all the Uzbek nationals were dispatched from the ASDP Kalabahi Port to Kupang on Wednesday under the escort of Alor Police personnel. Upon arrival in Kupang on Thursday, they were handed over to the Kupang Class I Immigration Office. The handover was conducted by the Head of the Alor Police Criminal Investigation Unit to the Head of the Immigration Intelligence and Enforcement Section, marked by the signing of an official handover report along with their passport documents.
He also expressed appreciation for the synergy between the Kupang Immigration Office, local government, and related agencies during the evacuation, examination, security, and handover process. “Inter-agency synergy is key to maintaining security in border areas while ensuring that the handling of foreign nationals is carried out quickly, precisely, and according to procedure,” he said.
The NTT Police Head of Public Relations also urged the public, especially those living in coastal areas and outer islands, to immediately report any sightings of foreign nationals or suspicious activities to the authorities so that they can be followed up in accordance with the law.