February 19, 2026 | 10:51 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is moving to expedite the repatriation of thousands of Indonesian citizens affected by the crackdown on online scam syndicates in Cambodia. This measure is taken after the Cambodian government requested all foreign representatives to immediately repatriate their citizens who were implicated in these activities.
“We have coordinated with related ministries and agencies to explore several options for speeding up the return of Indonesian citizens who are still in Cambodia,” said director of Indonesian Citizen Protection Heni Hamidah during a press conference in Jakarta on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
According to Heni, the warning has bolstered the urgency for the Indonesian government to expedite the repatriation process, especially for those who already have travel documents and have received immigration fine waivers.
Data and Repatriation Progress
The government recorded that a total of 4,254 Indonesian citizens who were former members of online scam syndicates reported to the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh from January 16 to February 15, 2026. Out of this number, 2,007 people have received reduced immigration fines.
Furthermore, nearly a thousand Indonesian citizens have independently purchased return flight tickets with staggered departure schedules from February 16 to March 4, 2026.
To facilitate the repatriation process, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh has also issued 1,427 travel documents in lieu of passports (SPLP) as of February 16 for Indonesian citizens who no longer have travel documents. Around 1,200 Indonesian citizens remained in temporary shelters provided through coordination between the Indonesian Embassy and local authorities.
Assessment Results and Legal Status
The ministry also conducted initial assessments of 3,917 Indonesian citizens who reported to authorities. Based on the preliminary results, no indications of human trafficking were found. "Many Indonesian citizens admitted their involvement in illegal activities in Cambodia, including online scams," said Heni.
The government ensures that the expedited repatriation will not halt the legal process. Upon their arrival in Indonesia, the Indonesian citizens will undergo law enforcement processes according to existing regulations. The expedited repatriation, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is carried out to ensure citizen protection while also following up on legal obligations and coordinating with Cambodian authorities in handling cross-border online scam cases.
Read: Indonesian Embassy: 3,595 Indonesians in Cambodia Are Not Human Trafficking Victims
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