The Indonesian authorities are currently conducting an investigation into the illegal trade of human organs, which involves police and immigration officers allegedly aiding traffickers in sending 122 Indonesians to a hospital in Cambodia to sell their kidneys. On July 19, 12 individuals, including a police officer and an immigration officer, were arrested in connection with the case. Hengki Haryadi, the Jakarta police director for general crimes, stated that further crackdowns on human smuggling syndicates involved in organ trade are ongoing.
All 122 victims, including factory workers, teachers, and executives, have returned to Indonesia, and the police are still searching for additional victims whose testimonies will be crucial for the investigation. According to Haryadi, most victims decided to sell their organs due to financial hardships caused by the pandemic. Six of the victims are still under medical observation.
Among the suspects, nine were previously victims of organ trade who lured others from various parts of Indonesia through social media to have their kidneys removed in Cambodia. Another suspect facilitated their travel to a hospital in Phnom Penh for kidney transplant surgery.
The group of suspects involved in the illegal organ trade has reportedly generated about 24.4 billion rupiah (USD 1.6 million) since 2019, with each victim being promised 135 million rupiah (USD 9,000).
The suspects face charges for violating Indonesia’s human trafficking law, with potential penalties of up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to 600 million rupiah (USD 39,000).
The investigation has revealed kidney trafficking transactions taking place at Preah Ket Mealea Hospital in Cambodia, and the Indonesian authorities have been collaborating closely with Cambodian police in this regard.
Apart from the issue of organ trafficking, Southeast Asia also faces challenges related to cybercrime, human trafficking, and labor abuse. Recently, a major raid in the Philippines resulted in the rescue of over 2,700 workers from various countries who were allegedly deceived into working for fraudulent online gaming sites and cybercrime groups.
The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) convened in Indonesia’s Labuan Bajo in May and agreed to enhance cooperation in border management, investigation, law enforcement, and prosecution, as well as victim repatriation. They also emphasized the importance of improving national prevention efforts through public awareness campaigns and advanced technology usage.
