Tanjung Priok Police Uncover Alleged Assault and Human Trafficking of Crew Members

The Tanjung Priok Port Police have uncovered allegations of assault and Human Trafficking (TPPO) affecting three crew members aboard the squid fishing vessel KM Maulana 23.

“The disclosure of this case began when the team was monitoring social media on Monday (1/10) at 02:00 WIB. The patrol team detected viral content containing allegations of assault against crew members,” said Tanjung Priok Port Police Chief, AKBP Alrasyidin Fajri, in Jakarta on Friday.

From the cyber patrol monitoring, the authorities found content containing alleged criminal acts of assault against the crew.

To ensure the accuracy of the information, investigators acted swiftly by applying the “scientific crime investigation” method, examining witnesses, and combining it with field investigations.

As a result, the identity of one victim was confirmed as Ilham Shalahudin. Based on timeline tracking, Ilham has been aboard the squid transport vessel since late July 2026, departing from Muara Baru Pier with the destination of Merauke and fishing areas in the Aru Islands, Maluku.

However, further development of the case revealed that the victims of the assault were not limited to one person. “The police have identified a total of four crew members who were victims: Ilham Shalahudin, Oktavian Makhreza, Syawal Suswono, and Johan Saputra,” said Fajri.

“The management claimed, ‘your child has beri-beri disease and is currently being treated at Dobo Hospital in the Aru Islands.’ However, after our investigation, it turned out the child was not receiving treatment but was simply left on land,