Navy detention and immigration handover
Indonesian Navy personnel from the Kodaeral IV command detained the initial group of 12 Vietnamese nationals on Pulau Lumba in Kasu, Belakang Padang, on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, according to Kompas.com. That group comprised seven women and five men.
Tribun Batam reported that the Batam Immigration Office received the 15 people in two separate handovers on Wednesday, October 21. The first took place at 3:45 p.m. WIB and involved 12 people suspected to be Vietnamese nationals. At 11:30 p.m. WIB, two more Vietnamese nationals and one Myanmar national were handed over.
The transfers were documented in handover report BA/73/X/2026.
Suspected overstays under investigation
An initial examination raised suspicions that the 12 Vietnamese nationals had overstayed their residence permits in Indonesia, Kompas.com reported. They were also suspected of trying to leave Indonesia by an unofficial route, bypassing inspection at an immigration checkpoint, known as a TPI.
Officials said the motive for their departure remained under investigation and had not been confirmed.
