JAKARTA - The Indonesian Navy stopped 14 Indonesian migrant workers attempting to reach Malaysia through an irregular sea route in the waters of Takong Iyu, Karimun Regency, Riau Islands, after receiving a public tip-off on Sunday night, May 3.

Indonesia’s state-owned agency Antara reported the capture on Monday, May 4. The Tanjung Balai Karimun naval base said its quick response team also detained the boat skipper, identified only as W, 48, and a crew member, identified as A, 37. The 14 workers consisted of nine men and five women from several regions in Indonesia. 

Lieutenant Colonel Samuel C. Noya, commander of the Tanjung Balai Karimun naval base, said the group had been taken to the naval base for further checks. “All parties secured have been brought to the Tanjung Balai Karimun naval base command headquarters for further examination according to applicable procedures,” he said. 

The operation began after information that workers would be sent illegally through Takong Iyu waters. The Navy team moved at around 9:35 p.m. Western Indonesia Time and detected the sound of a suspicious speedboat heading toward the Malaysian border at about 11:35 p.m. 

Samuel said officers chased the boat and fired warning shots after it ignored orders to stop. The vessel was stopped at around 1 a.m., with all passengers secured without resistance. The 200-horsepower boat had departed from Mecan Island in Batam and was heading to Pontian, Malaysia. 

Initial checks found the workers were healthy, while the skipper was indicated to have tested positive for drugs. Samuel said each worker had paid between Rp5 million and Rp13 million to travel to Malaysia through the unofficial route. The skipper and crew member will be handed to Karimun water police for legal processing, while the workers will be transferred to the local migrant worker protection post for further handling. 

Malaysia remains one of Indonesia’s largest labour destinations. The Migrant Worker Protection Ministry said Indonesia placed 296,948 migrant workers abroad in 2025, with Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan listed as the five largest destination countries. 

The ministry also said in February that 56,000 Indonesian migrant workers were assisted home after deportation from Malaysia between January 2023 and December 2025. On the outbound side, police in Dumai stopped 61 Indonesian citizens and 7 foreign nationals from leaving for Malaysia on April 18, before the Tanjung Balai Karimun naval base intercepted the latest 14 Indonesian migrant workers on May 3.