Banda Aceh — The General Crime Investigation Directorate (Ditreskrimum) of the Aceh Regional Police successfully thwarted an underage human trafficking attempt at the Digital Airport Hotel, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Jakarta, on Tuesday, January 7, 2024. Previously, the Aceh Police, in collaboration with Banda Aceh Police, had rescued a child victim of human trafficking in Malaysia.
The Director of Criminal Investigations for Aceh Police, Senior Commissioner Ade Harianto, stated that the victim, a 13-year-old from Aceh Besar, initially departed from Sultan Iskandar Muda (SIM) Airport in Aceh Besar to Balikpapan using a ticket arranged by an unknown individual.
"The victim's family reported her disappearance to the Aceh Police SPKT on Monday (6/1). The victim’s mother fainted due to anxiety over her child’s unknown whereabouts after school hours. Upon receiving the report, investigators acted swiftly to track the victim," Ade Harianto explained in a statement on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
Through the investigation, the victim was located at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Jakarta. Ade immediately ordered personnel to find and secure the victim.
"Thanks to the hard work of the investigators, the victim was found at the Digital Airport Hotel (Capsule Hotel) in Soekarno-Hatta, Jakarta, while awaiting instructions to travel to another province," Ade said.
The victim revealed in her initial testimony that she was contacted by an unknown individual who arranged her travel to Balikpapan. Both her flight ticket and accommodation were arranged by the perpetrator, and she was given directions regarding her departure.
"The investigators located the victim just in time. A delay of even a few moments could have made it extremely difficult to trace her whereabouts," Ade added.
The police are now escorting the victim back to Aceh via Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Further investigations will follow to explore potential connections to a trafficking network directing the victim to Balikpapan.
Lastly, Ade urged the people of Aceh, especially parents, to closely monitor their children's social interactions to prevent them from falling victim to crimes like human trafficking.
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