Immigration Hands Over 3 Australian Nationals to Prosecutors in Illegal Entry Case via Merauke

The Directorate General of Immigration has handed over three Australian nationals, initialled ZA, DTL, and JVD, to the Prosecutor’s Office to undergo judicial proceedings. The three Australian nationals were arrested since November 2025 in a case of illegal entry or entering Indonesia illegally through Merauke.

“Regarding the three Australian foreign nationals along with their evidence, they will be handed over to the Merauke District Prosecutor’s Office to undergo judicial proceedings,” said Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko during a press conference at the Directorate General of Immigration in South Jakarta on Thursday (9/4/2026).

In this case, the Australians who carried out the illegal entry were DTL and ZA. The two were then assisted by a pilot initialled JVD.

“All three are Australian nationals; these two are the main perpetrators of the illegal entry, and one assisted, namely a pilot (JVD), also an Australian national,” he explained.

Hendarsam explained that the case began on 17 November 2025, when a Piper PA 23-250 Aztec aircraft with registration number VH-EQD landed in Merauke. The aircraft, flown by JVD, was known to have departed from Cairns, Queensland, Australia.

“Before reaching Merauke, the aircraft made a stopover at the Port Stewart runway, Queensland, Australia. That area has no immigration officers, allowing ZA and DTL to be picked up without travel documents (passports) or Indonesian visas,” he clarified.

During the investigation period, the three suspects were held at Salemba Detention Centre in Central Jakarta. After the investigation file was declared complete, the suspects along with the evidence were handed over to the Merauke District Prosecutor’s Office for judicial proceedings.

In addition to the three foreign nationals, there is one Indonesian national pilot who is still under investigation. For this reason, the investigation is coordinating with the Australian government.

“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 stated.

For their actions, ZA and DTL are charged under Article 119 paragraph (1) of Law No. 6 of 2011 on Immigration for entering Indonesia without valid documents. Meanwhile, the pilot, JVD, faces multiple charges for his role in providing facilities or assistance in the criminal act.