Police hunt Bangka Belitung woman over suspected illegal recruitment of Indonesian migrant workers to Cambodia

Tangerang - Indonesian police are hunting a woman identified only as LA, suspected of recruiting Indonesian prospective migrant workers (CPMI) illegally bound for Cambodia. Soekarno-Hatta AirportPoliceStation chief Senior Police Commissioner Wisnu Wardana confirmed LA has been placed on the wanted list (DPO) and is believed to have fled abroad. A Red Notice has been submitted to Interpol to locate her.

The case emerged after police received information about two female CPMIs, AG from Garut and SP from North Jakarta, who departed via Terminal 3 at Soekarno-Hatta Airport on 17 January 2026 at approximately 11am. They were scheduled to fly to Kuala Lumpur on TransNusa before continuing to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Criminal Investigation Unit headPolice Commissioner Yandri Mono stated both women admitted being recruited via social media and a WhatsApp group named ‘Liburaaannnnn’, with promises of online gambling administrator roles earning up to Rp 10 million per month.

Police investigations revealed LA’s suspected involvement as the recruiter and arranger of the illegal departure. In addition, a man identified as RR was arrested for allegedly helping facilitate the two CPMIs’ departure at the airport. RR is suspected of booking travel tickets, managing departure processes, and connecting the CPMIs with individuals who assisted with check-in and immigration checks. He confessed to receiving Rp 500,000 for his role in the departure process.