Police Dismantle International and Domestic Human Trafficking Network
The Directorate of Sexual Crimes and Human Trafficking (PPA and PPO) of the Sulawesi Utara Regional Police has successfully dismantled an international and domestic human trafficking network.
“The Police have successfully prevented two attempted shipments of human trafficking victims within the last two months,” said Police Commissioner Nonie Sengkey, Director of PPA and PPO at Sulawesi Utara Police, during a press conference in Manado on Tuesday.
The first case involved a recruitment network for online gambling administrators to Cambodia, whilst the second case targeted women intended to work as Ladies Companions (LC) in Manokwari, Papua Barat.
He emphasised that the police are fully committed to eliminating human trafficking practices that exploit economic vulnerability within society.
He revealed that the latest case was uncovered on Wednesday, 10 February 2026, when the Sulawesi Utara Police Mobile Team conducted an arrest at Sam Ratulangi International Airport. Officers apprehended three individuals—women with initials IAL and CAM, and a man with initials KFP—who were about to depart for Poipet, Cambodia.
“Suspect IAL facilitated the recruitment process controlled by men with initials FP and A from abroad,” said Police Commissioner Nonie Sengkey.
IAL provided loans to victims to convince their families and assisted in obtaining travel permits to leave the country. IAL was a seasoned trafficker who had worked twice as an online gambling administrator in Cambodia in 2023 and 2024. Police secured evidence including passports, various foreign currencies (US dollars, Singapore dollars, ringgit, and Cambodian riel), and dozens of internet SIM cards.
Previously, on 13 January 2026, police also apprehended a woman with initials LLP in Ketang Baru District, Manado. LLP was arrested after being involved in an altercation whilst attempting to force a victim with initials SPP to depart immediately for Manokwari.
Based on interrogation results, LLP was instructed by a nightclub “Mami” in Manokwari with initials HA to recruit workers. The modus operandi involved victims being given an advance payment of Rp1,000,000 and a plane ticket, but these costs were then converted into debt to be paid off from their future salaries.
“Victims were promised work as LCs, but in reality they were not given fixed salaries and relied only on commissions from the sale of alcoholic beverages,” explained Police Commissioner Nonie Sengkey.
Suspect LLP personally profited Rp1,860,000 from the difference in money sent by the main recruiter.
Both suspects, LLP and IAL, have been detained and charged under Article 10 of Law Number 21 of 2007 on the Eradication of Human Trafficking in conjunction with Article 455 of the Criminal Code.
“We continue to coordinate with the International Relations Division of the Police Headquarters to pursue the main recruiters located abroad,” concluded Police Commissioner Nonie Sengkey.
Currently, the case files for both cases are under investigation and being forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.