Rifaldo Aquino, Interpol Fugitive in Human Trafficking and Online Scam Cases in Cambodia, Arrested and Detained at Metro Police Headquarters
Rifaldo Aquino Pontoh, an Interpol fugitive sought in connection with human trafficking offences (TPPO) and online scam cases in Cambodia, was apprehended in Bali. Rifaldo is now formally detained at Metro Jakarta Police Headquarters.
“Yes, it is being handled by us (Directorate of General Crimes, Metro Jakarta Police), and he has been detained,” said the Director of General Crimes at Metro Jakarta Police Headquarters Brigadier General Iman Imanuddin to journalists on Thursday, 12 March 2026.
Iman explained that Rifaldo Aquino was initially pursued by the Directorate of General Crimes at Metro Jakarta Police Headquarters in connection with scamming offences. As the investigation progressed, the suspect was also found to be involved in alleged human trafficking to foreign countries, namely Cambodia.
“We initially handled the scamming case. Subsequently, it developed into several allegations of human trafficking offences,” he explained.
Rifaldo’s role involved exploiting victims to become scamming operators abroad. Police subsequently requested a Red Notice for Rifaldo’s whereabouts, which indicated he was heading to Indonesia.
“The victims were exploited to serve as operators in a location abroad. Then yesterday, one of the wanted persons for whom we had requested a Red Notice was indicated to be travelling to Indonesia,” he explained.
The Directorate of General Crimes at Metro Jakarta Police Headquarters collaborated with the International Relations Division to apprehend the perpetrator. Rifaldo is now detained at Metro Jakarta Police Headquarters for further investigation.
“Therefore, we coordinated with the International Relations Division to apprehend and secure the individual concerned. Subsequently, he was brought to Metro Jakarta Police Headquarters and law enforcement proceedings were initiated. The process is currently under way with us (Directorate of General Crimes, Metro Jakarta Police),” he stated.
Arrested in Bali
Previously, the Head of the International Relations Division, Indonesian Interpol NCB Secretariat, Brigadier General Ricky Purnama, stated that the arrest was carried out by a joint team of personnel from the Indonesian Interpol NCB Secretariat, the Directorate of General Crimes at Metro Jakarta Police Headquarters and Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Police, together with I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport Immigration.
“We apprehended the Interpol Red Notice subject, Indonesian national Rifaldo Aquino Pontoh, on Saturday, 21 February at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali,” said Ricky in his statement on Saturday, 21 February.
Brigadier General Ricky revealed that Rifaldo Aquino was an operator of an international human trafficking network and online fraud scheme in Cambodia. He exploited social media by advertising job vacancies promising high salaries.
“However, in reality, victims suffered severe violence, including passport confiscation, unpaid wages, and coercive conditions that forced victims to pay substantial fees to resign or return to Indonesia,” he explained.
Rifaldo’s arrest was also the result of collaboration between the International Relations Division of the Indonesian National Police and Interpol. Previously, on Friday, 20 February, the Indonesian Interpol NCB received information from Manila’s NCB that Rifaldo was detected transiting from Cambodia to the Philippines.
From the Philippines, Rifaldo subsequently continued his journey to Bali. This information was followed up and the team moved swiftly to Bali and apprehended the suspect.
“Currently, the individual is still undergoing intensive interrogation,” he concluded.