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Indonesian authorities have intercepted a group of 68 foreign nationals, including 26 individuals from Bangladesh, who were discovered at a palm oil plantation in Dumai, Riau Province. The group, which also comprised 42 Rohingya individuals, including ten women and two children, is believed to have been preparing for an illegal sea journey to Malaysia.
Local residents raised the alarm at approximately 10:40 pm local time on Saturday (April 26th) after spotting the large group along Jalan Parit 2 in the Tanjung Penyembal subdistrict. Their prompt action led to the swift involvement of both police and immigration officials.
"The group consists of 26 Bangladeshi nationals and 42 Rohingya individuals, including ten women and two children," confirmed Totok Purnawan, head of the Dumai immigration enforcement unit, in a statement to Metro TV.
A joint investigation has been launched by the police and immigration authorities to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Officials have indicated that further action will be taken as their enquiries progress.
"Preliminary findings suggest that the group intended to travel to Malaysia using illegal maritime routes," Purnawan added, highlighting the perilous journeys undertaken by many seeking better opportunities or fleeing persecution.
This discovery underscores the ongoing challenges faced by individuals from Bangladesh and the Rohingya community who often resort to dangerous and illegal means in their pursuit of refuge or employment in other countries. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the complex transnational issues surrounding migration and the vulnerabilities faced by those undertaking such journeys. Authorities are expected to focus their investigation on identifying any facilitators or networks involved in organizing this attempted illegal passage.
