Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Foils Cross-Border Marriage Scam, Deports Three Foreigners
00:00
00:00
- Indonesian immigration authorities uncovered a cross-border marriage scam involving three Chinese nationals who allegedly recruited Indonesian women with promises of better financial security.
- The three suspects were arrested following an investigation triggered by a suspicious passport application, then deported to China and proposed for inclusion on Indonesia’s immigration blacklist.
- Officials are continuing to investigate the wider network behind the scheme, which involved payments from prospective grooms and intermediaries to arrange marriages and handle travel documents.
Jakarta – The Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office in Tangerang, Banten, announced that the three suspects—identified by their initials CS, FG, and CX—were part of an organized network facilitating arranged marriages between Indonesian women and men in China.
Head of the Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office, Galih P. Kartika Perdhana, said the operation reflects the agency’s commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty while protecting Indonesian citizens from exploitation.
The case first came to light on June 4, 2026, when immigration officers grew suspicious during a passport application submitted by an Indonesian woman identified as FNR.
During questioning, FNR initially claimed she intended to travel to Malaysia for tourism. However, further investigation revealed that she was actually being prepared for departure to China, where she would be married off to a local man through an intermediary, an Indonesian identified as AN.
Following this discovery, the Immigration Intelligence and Enforcement Team (Inteldakim) launched a deeper investigation and identified CS, also known as “Paman,” as the alleged coordinator of the network.
Authorities apprehended CS on June 12, 2026, at Terminal 3 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, just before he attempted to leave Indonesia.
The investigation continued with a targeted operation on June 17 at an apartment complex in Tangerang.
During the raid, officers detained two additional Chinese nationals, FG and CX, along with three Indonesian women identified as SA, PY, and PO, who are believed to be victims of the scheme. Initial findings indicate that SA and PO had previously attempted to travel to China but were unsuccessful due to discrepancies in their documentation.
According to investigators, the victims were promised improved economic prospects through marriage to Chinese men.
Galih revealed that prospective grooms involved in the scheme paid approximately 60,000 yuan (around Rp150 million) to the network coordinator, CS. Of that amount, about 20,000 yuan (roughly Rp50 million) was given to the victims’ families as a form of dowry.
The remaining funds were reportedly used to cover travel documents, visa processing, certificates of single status, accommodation, and transportation costs.
Following the investigation, Indonesian immigration authorities deported the three Chinese nationals on June 26, 2026, via a flight from Jakarta to Guangzhou.
In addition to deportation, the suspects have been proposed for inclusion on Indonesia’s blacklist, barring them from re-entering the country in accordance with existing immigration regulations.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and have pledged to uncover the full extent of the network and identify other individuals who may be involved in similar cross-border marriage schemes.
“We will continue to deepen the investigation to expose any broader network behind this practice,” Galih said.
Indonesianpost.com | Antara
