Batam Immigration Office Deports 121 Foreign Nationals

Batam, Riau Islands (Antara) - Since early this year, immigration authorities in Batam, Riau Islands province, have deported 121 foreign nationals on various charges. "Most of the deportees were nationals of Malaysia, Singapore, and Myanmar," Head of the Batam Immigration Office Yudi Kurniadi stated here on Friday. He informed that 36 foreign nationals were deported after their stay permits had expired, and 40 were deported after being caught for illegal fishing in the Indonesian waters. Four of the deportees were involved in smuggling activities, while 26 others abused their stay permits, he added. Sixteen foreign nationals were deported after completing their respective jail terms for various criminal offenses, he remarked. He noted that several foreign nationals had gained illegal entry into Batam due to the presence of many illegal ports. Some of the foreign nationals used the illegal ports for smuggling drugs, he claimed. "Some of the foreign nationals were directly deported to their countries, while others were sent to a detention facility in Tanjungpingan, prior to their deportation," he said. (*)