Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia has deported five Chinese nationals and barred them from re-entering after authorities suspected they planned to use Indonesia as an illegal route to Australia, immigration officials said here Tuesday.
Immigration Director General Hendarsam Marantoko said authorities were strengthening oversight of foreign nationals, including suspected misuse of Indonesian territory for illegal crossings into other countries.
“Immigration is committed to safeguarding national security and sovereignty while protecting the public through professional law enforcement,” Hendarsam said.
The five Chinese nationals were identified by the initials LH, 45; LJ, 54; WY, 59; XC, 40; and ZJ, 50. Their occupations included shoe factory worker, entrepreneur, and farmer.
Atambua Immigration Office Head Jusuf Ginting said the five were deported to China through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, on August 25.
The enforcement action began after the five men allegedly provided false information during questioning, potentially posing a threat to public security and order.
“We found them at Atapupu Port in Belu on Tuesday, August 18, 2026,” Ginting said.
An initial report from Atapupu port authorities said a passenger vessel was docked there and suspected of carrying several foreign nationals, Ginting said.
During questioning, the five said they planned to fish in Lirang, Maluku. “But the fishing equipment they carried was not suitable for normal fishing activities,” Ginting said.
Authorities also became suspicious because the five carried only about four million rupiah (US$240), which Ginting said was generally insufficient to cover a long-distance speedboat trip from Lombok to Maluku.
The five were not listed on the official passenger manifest of the speedboat they were traveling on, he said.
The vessel’s sailing permit showed it was supposed to travel from Lombok to Sape Island, but it was found in Atapupu without a valid permit for that route.
“Based on the examination and facts contradicting their initial statements, the five were suspected of intending to use Indonesia as an illegal transit route to Australia,” Ginting said.
The five entered Indonesia on July 31, 2026, through Batam, Riau Islands, using visa-on-arrival and visitor visas.
In addition to deportation, immigration authorities placed the five Chinese nationals on Indonesia’s entry blacklist, preventing them from returning.
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Translator: Laily R, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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