KUALA LUMPUR - Indonesian immigration officers have uncovered an international human smuggling syndicate that helped foreign nationals leave Indonesia illegally for Australia through hidden routes.

Three suspects were arrested, including two Chinese nationals identified as SS, 37, and XS, 39, and a Thai national identified as PK, 27.

“This operation stemmed from public reports about foreigners suspected of illegally possessing Indonesian electronic ID cards (e-KTP) in West Jakarta,” said Jakarta Regional Immigration Office head Pamuji Raharja at a press conference on Tuesday.

Officers raided a location on January 12 and seized passports, fake identity cards and mobile phones believed to be used in the operation.

Investigations found that SS was the main organiser of the syndicate.

He was carrying a fake Indonesian e-KTP under the name Gunawan Santoso, registered to an address in Cianjur, West Java.

SS admitted he paid Rp90 million to an Indonesian citizen identified as LS to obtain a fake e-KTP, family card and birth certificate.

Authorities said the documents were used to rent housing and support the smuggling operation.

The syndicate mainly targeted Chinese nationals seeking asylum or illegal work opportunities in Australia.

The migrants reportedly travelled from China to Jakarta on their own before being moved to Merauke, Papua, by XS.

From Merauke, they were sent to Australia by boat with the help of another accomplice known as A or C.

XS admitted to smuggling five people to Australia and charging 60,000 yuan per person, earning about 8,000 yuan from each case.

All five migrants were later detained by Australian immigration authorities.

“These fake citizenship documents were used not only for personal gain but also to facilitate the illegal departure of Chinese nationals to Australia,” said West Jakarta Immigration Office head Ronald Arman Abdullah.

He said the suspects face deportation and a permanent entry ban and will be charged under Indonesia’s Immigration Law for human smuggling and misuse of permits.

Immigration enforcement chief Yoga Kharisma Suhud said investigations are continuing to track down LS, the Indonesian intermediary who allegedly supplied the fake documents.