MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The North Sumatra Provincial Government is strengthening the protection of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) while taking firmer action against human trafficking (TPPO). The regional government considers this approach to require close cross-sectoral coordination, from the village level through to the central government.
North Sumatra Deputy Governor Surya reaffirmed the commitment during a meeting with the field verification team from Deputation I of the Presidential Staff Office of the Republic of Indonesia (KSP), which was conducting a verification of efforts to protect Indonesian citizens from human trafficking in North Sumatra. The meeting was held on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in Meeting Room I at the North Sumatra Governor's Office on Jalan Pangeran Diponegoro No. 30, Medan.
"Protecting the public cannot be carried out partially. Strong coordination is needed from the village, district and provincial levels through to the central government so that every link in the prevention chain can function effectively," Surya said.
Surya stressed that the government cannot leave the issue of human trafficking solely to a single agency. Prevention efforts must be integrated and involve regional governments, law enforcement agencies, immigration authorities, village administrations and the central government.
In his view, stronger coordination is particularly important because human trafficking methods continue to evolve. Job seekers are among the groups most vulnerable to exploitation, as they can be targeted by individuals who offer employment with promises of high incomes.
Field Verification to Identify High-Risk Areas
Surya explained that the field verification conducted by Deputation I of the KSP was not merely intended to examine administrative reports submitted by the regional government. Rather, it was also aimed at providing a concrete picture of the situation concerning public protection and efforts to combat human trafficking in North Sumatra.
The verification could help the government identify challenges on the ground. At the same time, it could map vulnerable areas that may potentially be used as recruitment or transit routes for human trafficking victims.
In addition, the verification findings could serve as a basis for evaluation and the development of corrective measures. In this way, efforts to prevent and combat human trafficking would not be implemented merely as administrative programs, but would also respond to the concrete problems faced by the public.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government is also strengthening its institutional framework for combating human trafficking. One of the steps taken in this direction was the issuance of North Sumatra Governor Regulation No. 1 of 2025 concerning the Task Force for the Prevention and Eradication of Human Trafficking.
The regulation provides a basis for stronger cross-sectoral coordination within the regional government. Through the task force, prevention efforts, victim protection, case handling and measures to restore the livelihoods of affected people are expected to be better coordinated.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government is also strengthening cooperation with the Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration in North Sumatra. Surya highlighted the "Petugas Imigrasi Pembina Desa" (PIMPASA) program, which involves 53 personnel from 11 immigration units.
The personnel carry out assistance and public awareness activities in 171 villages under their supervision across North Sumatra. The program is part of efforts to strengthen monitoring and public education down to the village level, particularly concerning the mobility of Indonesian citizens and potential crimes associated with human trafficking.
STRONG COORDINATION NEEDED AT ALL LEVELS: North Sumatra Deputy Governor Surya emphasizes that protecting the public from human trafficking requires strong coordination from the village level through to the central government. (PHOTO: Alexander AP Siahaan)
Thousands of Victims Raise Serious Concerns
Surya said data on efforts to combat human trafficking showed that the issue remained a major challenge for North Sumatra. In 2024, 392 human trafficking cases involving 471 victims were recorded.
In 2025, the number of cases increased again. The government recorded 396 cases involving 465 identified victims. In total, 691 cases involving 1,583 victims were handled.
"The data show that in 2024, 392 human trafficking cases involving 471 victims were recorded. In 2025, the figure rose to 396 cases involving 465 identified victims. In total, 691 cases involving 1,583 victims were handled. This places North Sumatra among the provinces with a high number of cases handled at the national level," he said.
These figures underscore the scale of the challenge facing the government in protecting the public from human trafficking. The cases do not occur only within Indonesia, but are also linked to the departure of Indonesian citizens overseas.
In January 2026, the government repatriated 289 victims from abroad, including citizens from North Sumatra. The repatriation once again highlighted the need for serious and sustained attention to human trafficking.
According to Surya, the government must strengthen prevention efforts at the grassroots level so that people do not easily fall for dubious job offers. At the same time, it must ensure that people have reliable information about procedures for obtaining employment both domestically and overseas.
One of the North Sumatra Provincial Government's strategies is to expand employment opportunities for local residents. The regional government is working with the Sei Mangkei Special Economic Zone (KEK), PT Kawasan Industri Medan (KIM) and PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium (Inalum) to strengthen workforce absorption.
These measures are intended to provide people with more employment opportunities within the country. By creating adequate job opportunities, the government hopes residents will be less likely to accept risky employment offers that could lead to exploitation or human trafficking.
DEPORTATION OF INDONESIANS INVOLVED IN ONLINE SCAM OPERATION: Acting Head of Deputation I of the Presidential Staff Office, Heru Kreshna Reza, explains that 2,873 Indonesian citizens from North Sumatra were among the total 8,507 Indonesians involved in online scam operations who had been deported as of August 2026. (PHOTO: Alexander AP Siahaan)
2,873 North Sumatra Residents Affected by Online Scams
Acting Head of Deputation I of the Presidential Staff Office, Heru Kreshna Reza, said the team was conducting the field verification to mitigate various risks before they developed into human trafficking cases. The government needs to understand the actual conditions in the regions in order to establish appropriate prevention measures.
According to Heru, North Sumatra's geographical position near various international mobility routes gives the province a strategic role in the national agenda to protect Indonesian citizens. The situation presents challenges for the province while also giving it an important role in preventing human trafficking.
Heru said data from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as of August 2026 showed that 8,507 Indonesians involved in online scam operations had been deported from various countries. Of that number, 2,873 people came from North Sumatra, representing roughly one-third of the national total.
The figure is a cause for concern because some of those affected had left Indonesia expecting to secure better employment and higher incomes. Instead, they encountered conditions that differed from the information provided to them during the recruitment process.
"They left believing they would obtain better employment. That is why, through this field verification, we want to establish what is actually happening on the ground.
"Therefore, cross-sectoral cooperation between ministries and regional authorities with important responsibilities is necessary. Equally important is the role of the governor and deputy governor as the highest regional leadership," he said.
Heru assessed that cooperation between the central and regional governments was a decisive factor in preventing similar cases in the future. Regional governments have a strategic role because they are in direct contact with the public and can identify problems at the grassroots level.
Through field verification, the government can obtain a more comprehensive picture of recruitment patterns, vulnerable population groups and potential weaknesses that could be exploited by human trafficking networks. The information can then serve as a basis for strengthening policies and determining more targeted interventions.
The North Sumatra Provincial Government reaffirmed its commitment to further strengthening public protection through cross-sectoral cooperation. Public awareness, monitoring, employment opportunities and coordination among government agencies will also be strengthened so that human trafficking prevention can be implemented more effectively.
Through these measures, the government hopes to increase public awareness of the risks of human trafficking and prevent people from easily falling for dubious employment offers. Protecting citizens from the recruitment stage through their departure is an important part of breaking the chain of human trafficking in North Sumatra. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala