Police name two suspects for smuggling nine Uzbek nationals

The Directorate of Water and Air Police (Ditpolairud) of the Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) Regional Police has named two individuals as suspects in a case involving the smuggling of nine Uzbek nationals who were to be illegally dispatched to Australia via NTT waters. NTT Police Director of Water and Air Police, Senior Commissioner Irwan Deffi Nasution, stated in Kupang on Thursday that the two suspects bear the initials YL (59) and SLAR (52). “The two suspects are alleged to have prepared sea transportation facilities that would be used to take nine Uzbek citizens to Australia illegally,” he said. Following up on the information, investigating officers secured the nine Uzbek nationals along with an Indonesian citizen at a house in Alak Village, Kupang City. From the case disclosure, police seized a number of pieces of evidence including one motorboat, Rp55 million in cash, three mobile phones, and 13 jerry cans of diesel fuel suspected of being used to support the smuggling operation. Examination results indicated both suspects had been promised a profit of Rp325 million if they successfully dispatched the foreign nationals to Australia. Irwan stated the case disclosure is part of the police’s efforts to prevent human smuggling practices that utilise the NTT region as a transit or departure point to Australia. In handling the case, the NTT Police Ditpolairud is coordinating with the National Police’s International Relations Division, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy of Uzbekistan, and the NTT Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration.