Antara News·Indonesia·Wednesday, August 19, 2026 at 09:22 AM

Indonesia busts mail-order bride trafficking ring tied to China

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Laily Rahmawaty, Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian police are investigating five human trafficking cases involving "mail-order bride" schemes targeting local women for Chinese nationals, arresting a recruiter and an interpreter linked to one operating in Guangzhou, officials said Wednesday.

Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, Brig. Gen. Nurul Azizah, head of the police’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, identified the suspects as a 25-year-old female recruiter, CA, and a 59-year-old male Mandarin interpreter, FU.

CA allegedly forged travel documents and earned 20 million rupiah ($1,200), while FU connected prospective brides with Chinese men for a 5 million rupiah ($280) fee.

"Cases of Indonesian mail-order brides for Chinese nationals are being handled by our human trafficking task force," Azizah said.

"Suspect FU served as a Mandarin interpreter and connected the prospective husband with the victim's family."

Authorities disclosed that between 2024 and 2025, victims were promised a lump sum of 25 million rupiah ($1,400) upon marriage and 10 million rupiah ($560) per month once living in China.

However, victims reported receiving only the initial payout and were subjected to domestic abuse in China, where they were forced into uncompensated domestic labor for households exceeding 10 family members.

"In reality, it did not match the agreement," Azizah noted.

"The promised monthly allowance was never received, and in China, the victim suffered domestic violence while caring for a household of over 10 people."

Investigators uncovered eight original Indonesian passports, eight identity cards belonging to women slated for marriage to Chinese nationals, forged marriage certificates, banking records, and mobile phones.

Police revealed the ring unraveled after a victim escaped her husband in Guangzhou and reported the abuse to the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong.

While cross-border marriages are common, police emphasized that false promises and forced labor elevate these cases to human trafficking under Indonesian law.

Prosecutors have declared the case file complete, and both suspects have been handed over for trial.

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