TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian National Police's Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) has assisted in the repatriation of 1,121 Indonesian nationals flagged for suspected legal or employment issues from Myanmar and Cambodia as of Monday, February 23, 2026. The returns have been carried out in stages since January 22.
Brigadier General Nurul Azizah, Director of Crimes Against Women and Children and Human Trafficking at the Bareskrim, said the returnees were former workers in online gambling and online scam operations. Some had previously worked in the same industry.
“Authorities identified 600 Indonesian nationals who had earlier been employed in similar operations,” Nurul said in a written statement released on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
According to Nurul, Bareskrim is also assessing whether elements of human trafficking were involved in the cases. So far, three individuals have been identified as potential victims of trafficking. All three filed reports through the North Sumatra Regional Police.
Based on the agency’s findings, many of the Indonesians were initially offered jobs as marketplace operators, online gambling staff, customer service agents, or restaurant workers at companies in Cambodia.
However, they ultimately ended up working as online scam operators. The job offers were reportedly circulated via Facebook and Telegram.
On average, the workers were required to work between 14 and 18 hours a day in scam operations. Some were provided accommodation and meals by the companies. However, they were not allowed to leave the buildings where they lived and worked.
During their employment in Cambodia and Myanmar, typically ranging from two months to over a year, the workers were promised monthly salaries of between Rp6 million and Rp8 million (around US$380–$510).
In reality, not all of them received payment. Most also returned to Indonesia without their passports, which had been withheld by their employers.
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