Mercenary recruitment becomes new threat for Riau Islands migrant workers
The Riau Islands office of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Service Agency (BP3MI) holds various education and training sessions to equip prospective workers with skills and certifications.
The Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Service Agency (BP3MI) in the Riau Islands is facing a new challenge as foreign military recruitment emerges as a threat to migrant workers. This threat came to light after the death of Rendi Apriyanto, a resident from Natuna regency who was killed while serving as a mercenary in the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Rendi was reportedly lured with a lucrative salary to join a foreign military unit. Prior to this tragic incident, many residents from Riau Islands had worked as illegal migrant workers in Malaysia or ran online scam centers in Cambodia. In response to this emerging threat, the BP3MI has taken preventive measures and has prevented the departure of 3,160 illegal migrant workers from the Riau Islands between 2024 and 2026.
Sr. Comr. Imam Riyadi, the head of BP3MI, confirmed that Rendi's name was not listed in the government's official database of migrant workers. To track Rendi's whereabouts and the circumstances surrounding his death, the BP3MI has collaborated with the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta, utilizing information from the Indonesian Embassy in Russia.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
