BALINEWSID.COM, KUPANG – Indonesia’s Directorate General of Immigration in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is investigating a suspected human smuggling operation after 16 Uzbek nationals were found stranded on the coast of Alor Regency. Initial investigations revealed that 14 of them had overstayed their Indonesian visas, while the remaining two still held valid stay permits until July 19, 2026.

Head of the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Office of the Directorate General of Immigration, Saroha Manullang, said all 16 Uzbek nationals are currently undergoing intensive questioning at the Class I Immigration Office with TPI Kupang to determine the purpose of their journey and identify those responsible for organizing the trip.

The group, consisting of 16 men, was discovered by local residents at around 6:00 a.m. Central Indonesia Time (WITA) on July 3, 2026, on Air Panas Beach in Bandar Village, Pantar District, Alor Regency. They were reportedly exhausted after the boat carrying them suffered engine failure in waters near Pantar Island.

After being rescued by local residents and police officers, the men were temporarily accommodated in Kalabahi before being officially transferred by the Alor Police to the Kupang Immigration Office on July 9, 2026.

Immigration officials uncovered several irregularities during the preliminary investigation. The passports of the Uzbek nationals listed different residential addresses and sponsors in various Indonesian cities, including Jakarta, Bandung, Bali, and Kendari. In addition, most of the men claimed they did not know one another despite traveling together.

“The fact that they departed together but claimed not to know each other is unusual for an ordinary tourist trip and warrants further investigation,” Manullang told reporters during a press conference in Kupang on Friday (July 10).

Authorities also confirmed that 14 of the foreign nationals had committed administrative immigration violations by overstaying their visas, as stipulated under Article 78 Paragraph (1) of Indonesia’s Immigration Law No. 6 of 2011. They may face administrative sanctions, including fines or deportation.

However, the investigation extends beyond immigration violations. Officials are also examining possible violations of Article 75 of the Immigration Law concerning public security and public order, as well as indications of an organized human smuggling operation.

Investigators became increasingly suspicious after discovering discrepancies between the passengers’ identities and the vessel’s passenger manifest. Furthermore, each of the Uzbek nationals admitted paying approximately US$8,000 (around Rp140 million) to a travel agent to join the journey.

According to investigators, the group began their trip from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta and I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali before traveling by sea from Kendari. They were allegedly planning to leave Indonesian territory via Rote Island when their boat broke down in Alor waters.

The investigation has also been complicated by the disappearance of the boat’s captain, who reportedly left the vessel under the pretext of seeking assistance and has not yet been located.

Manullang said immigration authorities suspect the existence of individuals or networks coordinating the illegal journey. The East Nusa Tenggara Immigration Office is continuing to coordinate with the East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police, the Alor Police, and other relevant agencies to uncover those involved.

To strengthen border security, the regional immigration office also plans to establish four new immigration offices in Alor, Larantuka, Bajawa, and Sumba. The expansion is expected to enhance supervision of foreign nationals in border areas that have long been considered vulnerable to illegal cross-border movements.

As of Friday, all 16 Uzbek nationals remain under examination at the Class I Immigration Office with TPI Kupang. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether they will face administrative sanctions, including fines and deportation, or further legal proceedings if evidence links them to a human smuggling network.