Police foil worker smuggling

Police foil worker smuggling

JEMBER, East Java: Police have detained eight job seekers, aged between 23 years and 60 years, attempting to leave for Malaysia illegally in search of work.

Chief of the Jember police precinct Lt. Col. Budi Utomo said yesterday that the workers were duped by two brokers, to whom they had paid between Rp 200,000 and Rp 1 million ($90-$455) to facilitate their departures.

The job seekers were lured by the brokers' promise of well- paid jobs in the neighboring country, Budi said as quoted by Antara.

Their journey ended in a local police station where they were held for questioning. The police are still looking for the two brokers. (pan)