Passengers Crowd Meranti Port During Lunar New Year as Police Ensure Safety
Tanjung Harapan Port in Selatpanjang, Kepulauan Meranti, Riau was packed with thousands of visitors during the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday. The Kepulauan Meranti Police prepared security escorts to ensure the safety of all visitors.
Kepulauan Meranti Police Chief AKBP Aldi Alfa Faroqi said that security measures were focused on passenger safety, smooth vessel traffic flow, and the prevention of public order disturbances.
“The Lunar New Year celebration is synonymous with increased public mobility. We ensured that all personnel were present to provide a sense of safety and comfort for people travelling through Tanjung Harapan Port,” said AKBP Aldi in a statement on Tuesday (17 February 2026).
The Kepulauan Meranti Police deployed dozens of personnel to secure the Lunar New Year holiday period. Tanjung Harapan Port in Selatpanjang alone recorded 2,310 passengers making journeys on both domestic and international routes.
The Police Chief stated that despite the surge in mobility, all activities proceeded safely and smoothly under tight security from the Kepulauan Meranti Police force.
AKBP Aldi Alfa Faroqi added that throughout the security operation, no criminal acts or notable security disturbances were encountered. All activities at the port proceeded in an orderly fashion without significant issues.
The security operation was led by the Tanjung Harapan Port Security Commander and involved seven personnel: Ipda Sabar Bernard Alexsander, Aiptu Dwi Padianto, Aipda Joko Sani, Aipda Yurnaldi, Bripda Yohanes Sitompul, Bripda Kevin Imanuel Simanjuntak (Raga), and Bripda M. Rizky Wahyudi.
They were stationed at several strategic points to manage passenger flows, monitor loading and unloading activities, and anticipate potential security threats.
According to data compiled, 29 vessels operated on the day, comprising 3 international ships and 26 domestic ships. On the international route, 417 passengers were recorded, consisting of 404 Indonesian citizens and 13 foreign nationals. A total of 210 passengers disembarked whilst 207 passengers departed.
On domestic routes, passenger numbers reached 1,893, with 1,410 passengers disembarking and 483 passengers boarding for various destinations.