KUBU RAYA, Thekabarnews.com—West Kalimantan Regional Police (Polda Kalbar) have thwarted another attempt to send Indonesian migrant workers abroad illegally. The operation was after a raid on a suspected illegal shelter house in Desa Kapur, Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan.

The Operational Team of the Crimes Against Women and Children and Human Trafficking (PPA-PPO) Directorate of Polda Kalimantan Barat conducted the operation on Wednesday night, April 22, 2026.

During the raid, the officers arrested 11 prospective Indonesian migrant workers (CPMI). These individuals were about to depart the country through non-procedural or illegal channels.

The house is located in the Kapur Raya Garden City II Complex, Desa Kapur. It is suspected to have been used as a temporary shelter before the workers were sent abroad. According to police, many were sent, especially to Malaysia.

“The departure of illegal migrant workers is very dangerous, legally and personally,” said Rusdiani, PPA-PPO director at Polda Kalbar.

“Non-procedural departures often put workers at risk of labor exploitation, human trafficking, violence, and serious safety threats in destination countries,” she said.

“Besides, illegal migrant workers do not receive proper legal protection, so they are highly vulnerable to abuse, fraud, and exploitation,” added Rusdiani.

The closeness of the province to the neighboring country, Malaysia, makes it one of the most popular destination countries for illegal migrant worker routes. This phenomenon is especially common in West Kalimantan.

“Many victims of illegal labor migration work without pay, lose access to their passports, and face unsafe working conditions without proper legal assistance,” she stated.

Authorities say West Kalimantan’s strategic border position makes it one of the most vulnerable provinces for human trafficking. Illegal labor recruitment networks also target it.

Polda Kalbar reaffirms commitment to eliminating illegal migrant worker trafficking. They also pledge to dismantle networks profiting from sending workers abroad without proper procedures.

Police said they must enforce the law strictly to deter traffickers and prevent similar cases from happening again in the future.

It also serves as a reminder of the persistent problem of illegal labor migration in border areas. In some places, economic hardship may push people to accept risky job offers without fully understanding the implications.

But officials say law enforcement alone won’t do it. Therefore, they called for increased collaboration between police, local governments, labor agencies, and communities. The aim is to break the chain of illegal recruitment and trafficking.

Officials also deem it important to educate the public on the legal process of working abroad. This, they say, helps prevent more people from falling victim to scams.

There is hope that regular enforcement, preventive education, and increased collaboration between sectors can greatly affect the illegal actions of migrant workers in West Kalimantan. Therefore, such measures may shield vulnerable job seekers from exploitation.

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