Situbondo District Police Chief AKBP Awan Hariono announced the human trafficking details to the press in Situbondo District, East Java Province on Monday (29/7/2019). (Novi Husdinarianto/GTM)
These women, including five underage girls, who were originally from Bandung in West Java Province, had been forced to work as prostitutes in the red-light district
Situbondo District Police in East Java Province Monday rescued 12 women who allegedly are victims of human trafficking from a former red-light district Gunung Sampan in Kotakan Village. These women, including five underage girls, who were originally from Bandung in West Java Province, had been forced to work as prostitutes in the red-light district, Situbondo Police chief AKBP Awan Hariono said during a press conference.
The victims are now staying at the district's safe house of the Situbondo Social Office, the police chief added.
The police had raided the brothel on July 27 following reports from the villagers.
During the raid, the police officers not only rescued the victims but also arrested a woman and a man suspected to be the procurers of the victims.
The suspects are still in custody and will be questioned further by the police.
From 2016 to 2019, the number of human trafficking victims in Indonesia totaled 4,906, according to the Social Ministry's records.
The ministry's report revealed that most human trafficking victims originated from the five provinces of West Java, Central Java, East Java, West Nusa Tenggara, and East Nusa Tenggara. (INE)
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