Human Trafficking Methods Increasingly Complex, Internal Oversight Must Be Strengthened and Transparent
JAKARTA — Member of the House of Representatives’ Commission XIII, Maruli Siahaan, has raised serious concerns over human trafficking cases. He made the remarks during a hearing with the Directorate General of Human Rights Compliance, Directorate General of Immigration, National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan), and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Monday, 25 May 2026.
During the meeting, Siahaan noted that human trafficking tactics have become increasingly complex as victims are often sent through official and legal channels, with their intended destinations manipulated by recruitment networks. He stated that this situation demands more adaptive and risk-mitigation-based oversight systems, particularly at international departure points.
‘We can no longer rely solely on routine administrative checks. Many trafficking victims depart with complete documentation but are exploited at their destination countries. The state must intervene early to prevent citizens from becoming victims,’ Siahaan said.
He urged the Directorate General of Immigration to develop an effective identification system for potential high-risk passengers.
He cited several indicators to watch for, including age between 18-35, travel to high-risk TPPO countries, last-minute ticket purchases, lack of valid employment contracts, and tourist visas suspected of being used for work purposes.
He noted that such patterns repeatedly occur in cases involving Indonesian citizens exploited abroad.
Additionally, Siahaan called for dedicated anti-TPPO officers at major international departure points such as Soekarno-Hatta, Kualanamu, Batam, Surabaya, Entikong, and Nunukan airports.
He said these officers should not only check documents but also conduct brief interviews with high-risk passengers to ensure travel purposes are legitimate and comply with procedures.
‘In many TPPO cases, these networks cannot operate without system leaks. Therefore, internal oversight must be robustly strengthened and made transparent,’ stressed the Golkar Party faction politician.
Siahaan also urged the Immigration Directorate to maintain a ‘red list’ of high-risk destination countries for stricter monitoring of Indonesian citizen departures. Countries deemed risky include Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand — often used as illegal transit routes — and certain regions in the Middle East.
He further proposed additional requirements, such as return tickets to Indonesia, for departures suspected of visa misuse or non-standard procedures.
He stated that preventing human trafficking requires a coordinated approach, strengthening immigration oversight, human rights protection, victim support, and inter-agency coordination to stop Indonesian citizens from falling victim to international trafficking networks.