Police Arrest Seven Foreign Nationals Suspected of Illegal Immigration at Masidae Beach

Kupang (ANTARA) – Police officers from the Rote Ndao Police Precinct, East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police, have arrested seven foreign nationals suspected of being illegal immigrants on the coast of Masidae Beach, Inaoe Village, South Rote District, Rote Ndao Regency.

Rote Ndao Police Chief, AKBP Mardiono, contacted from Kupang on Wednesday morning, said that the seven foreign nationals, who came from China and Uzbekistan, were arrested by police officers when the boat they were travelling in ran aground on the coast of Rote Ndao on Tuesday (24 February).

“We received information about their presence from residents of Inaoe Village on Tuesday (24 February),” he said.

After receiving the report from residents, police officers from the South Rote Police Station went to the location and found the seven foreign nationals and a boat with no name.

The seven foreign nationals consist of four Chinese citizens, namely Hui Jie, Jiang Bo, Chen Yong, and Dia Guozhong. The other three are citizens of Uzbekistan, namely Kasimov, Sultanmoradov, and Shodiev.

“They are currently at the Rote Ndao Police Precinct to undergo further questioning,” he said.

Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the Chinese nationals had previously entered Indonesia through Jakarta. From Jakarta, they travelled to Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.

They set off on 11 February 2026 using a boat through an intermediary, who is suspected to be an Indonesian citizen.

“They claimed to have travelled by sea for about eight days towards the Australian border,” he said.

However, upon arriving there, they were arrested by Australian authorities and asked to return to Indonesian territory using a speedboat with enough fuel to eventually run aground in the waters south of Rote Ndao.

The foreign nationals also claimed to have communicated with the organisers through social media and intended to go to Australia to work.

Meanwhile, the three foreign nationals from Uzbekistan claimed to have paid a fee of 400 US dollars per person to the organisers to be transported.

Currently, the police are still investigating the network involved, including tracing the individuals who facilitated their journey, who are suspected of having fled.

“The handling of this case is also being coordinated with the immigration authorities for further legal proceedings in accordance with applicable regulations,” he said.