Indonesian Immigration Tightens Passport Procedures to Prevent Human Trafficking and Online Scams Written on . Posted in -.
Samyangindo.co.id - To protect Indonesian citizens from falling victim to scams and exploitation abroad, the Immigration Office Class II TPI Sumbawa Besar has intensified its passport issuance procedures. This effort aims to curb the recruitment of Indonesians as online gambling administrators, scamming operators, and prevent human trafficking practices.
Quoted from kompas.com, the head of the Sumbawa Besar Immigration Office, Tedy Anugraha, stated that interviews during the passport application process are now conducted more thoroughly. “We are tightening the interview stage. For instance, we ask in detail about the purpose of travel to the destination country,” Tedy explained during a statement on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
He emphasized that the goal is to ensure that Indonesian citizens traveling abroad are not unknowingly lured into illegal practices. In recent months, there has been an increase in cases of Indonesians being recruited to work as online gambling and scam operators in countries such as Cambodia, the Philippines, and Myanmar.
According to Tedy, many recruiters offer high salaries for jobs that require little to no qualifications, making them attractive to young jobseekers and university graduates. “We hope that through proper education, we can reduce the risk of such crimes,” he said.
The Immigration Office is also working to prevent Indonesians from becoming migrant workers (PMI) through unofficial or illegal channels. “Sometimes we detect irregularities during the interviews, such as suspicious responses or slip-ups when applicants are asked certain questions,” Tedy added.
In addition to stricter interviews, the Sumbawa Immigration Office is focusing on outreach programs at the village level, aiming to build synergy between immigration offices and local communities. This initiative is designed to bring immigration services closer to the public, improve awareness, and enhance foreigner monitoring systems by involving local village officials.
“We're providing accurate and fast immigration information through a digital system,” Tedy stated, adding that cross-sector cooperation will continue to be strengthened, along with widespread socialization efforts to prevent human trafficking.
He urged all Indonesians to follow legal procedures when applying to work abroad. Currently, the Immigration Office has a foster village in Moyo Hulu District and plans to expand the program to other districts with high numbers of migrant workers.
“We encourage everyone to develop their skills first and not be easily tempted by promises of high pay. This way, we can reduce the number of unregistered migrant workers,” Tedy concluded.