Indonesia crackdown widens as Cambodia organ trafficking case ensnares law enforcement officials

The move comes after Indonesia police smashed a human trafficking ring involving law enforcement officials who sent people to Cambodia to sell their kidneys

In a regional effort, Asean leaders in May agreed to increase cooperation in border management to combat human trafficking

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Police officers hold evidence bags containing a pistol and satellite phones during a press conference. Indonesian police are investigating an illegal trade in human organs involving a police and an immigration officers who were accused of helping traffickers send 122 Indonesians to a hospital in Cambodia to sell their kidneys, police said. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:30pm, 26 Jul 2023Updated: 6:33pm, 26 Jul 2023

Police in Indonesia have vowed to step up their battle against organ trafficking after smashing a syndicate involving law enforcement officials and people smugglers who sent 122 poverty-stricken nationals to Cambodia to sell their kidneys.

Authorities last week arrested a policeman, an immigration officer and 10 traffickers, accusing the gang of hiring people from across Indonesia through social media and sending them to Phnom Penh’s military-run Preah Ket Mealea Hospital for kidney transplant surgery.

The suspects were charged with violating Indonesia’s human trafficking law and face a maximum of 15 years in prison and a fine of up to 600 million rupiah (US$40,000) if convicted.

Hengki Haryadi, the Jakarta police director for general crimes, said the victims, who were promised 135 million rupiah (US$9,000) each, had returned to Indonesia.

“The victims agreed to sell their organs because they needed money. Most of them lost their jobs during the pandemic,” Hengki said.

He also said some of the trafficked people remained under medical observation, and that victims included factory workers and teachers.

Hengki said the low-ranking police officer allegedly received 612 million rupiah (US$40,000) for helping the traffickers avoid investigation, while the immigration official, who forged documents for victims to travel overseas, was paid at least 3 million rupiah (US$200) for each person he smuggled to Cambodia.