Batam Immigration Intensifies Foreign Vessel Inspections to Secure Borders

The Class I Special TPI Immigration Office in Batam has intensified surveillance of foreign vessels passing through its waters as part of efforts to maintain border security and prevent various forms of transnational crime along the strategic Malacca and Singapore Straits shipping lanes. The move was realised through a joint operation involving surprise inspections of foreign-flagged ships anchored in Batam waters. The operation included personnel from the Water and Air Police, Customs and Excise, the Port Health Office, and the National Cyber and Crypto Agency. During the operation, officers inspected two foreign vessels, MV Forte and Vasco da Gama. The checks covered immigration documents, crew lists, last port clearance, cargo manifests, and health certificates. Head of the Batam Immigration Office, Wahyu Eka Putra, stated that routine surveillance in the maritime domain is part of a strategy to strengthen security in a border area with extremely high international mobility. He noted that Batam, as a border region, requires adaptive and continuous supervision. According to him, the joint operation aims not only to ensure compliance with immigration regulations but also to strengthen inter-agency coordination in monitoring the movement of foreign nationals entering via sea routes. No immigration violations or illegal activities were found during the inspection of the two vessels, with all crew documents confirmed to be complete and in accordance with applicable regulations. Nevertheless, Batam Immigration emphasised that surveillance will continue to be enhanced given Batam’s position on the world’s busiest international trade route. The Malacca and Singapore Straits are transited by more than 90,000 commercial vessels annually, making them vulnerable to various forms of cross-border violations. Integrated supervision is considered crucial to anticipate transnational crimes such as human smuggling, illegal crew changes, misuse of immigration permits, and maritime transit activities without valid documents. The commitment to immigration law enforcement in Batam is also reflected in the rising number of administrative actions against foreign nationals. Throughout 2025, the Batam Immigration Office deported 539 foreign nationals, an increase from 394 cases in 2024. The violations found were predominantly misuse of residence permits, overstaying, and employment breaches in the construction sector. Meanwhile, in the period from January to June 2026, more than 240 foreign nationals were deported, including the forced repatriation of 210 online scam perpetrators from Vietnam, China, and Myanmar who had previously been detained by law enforcement. Batam Immigration confirmed that surveillance at the country’s entry points, particularly via sea routes, will continue to be conducted regularly with relevant agencies to maintain border security, support the smooth flow of international trade, and ensure that every foreign national complies with the legal provisions in force in Indonesia.