JAKARTA: Authorities in Indonesia have crushed a human trafficking network in South Aceh that illegally transported Rohingya refugees and Acehnese into neighbouring countries, including Malaysia.
Aceh police confirmed three suspects were identified while eight others remained on the wanted list, with officials urging them to surrender.
“They shared responsibilities, including managing finances, arranging transport and connecting their networks across Bangladesh, Aceh, Riau and Malaysia,” said its Criminal Investigation Department director Commissioner Ade Harianto in a statement, Bernama reported.
He said the suspects had been operating for a long time and biometric data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was crucial to the investigation.
He also said Indonesian police would continue to pursue those involved in human trafficking until they were apprehended and held accountable under the law, adding that their actions violated immigration laws and might also be classified as human trafficking offences.