Triangular Synergy Model to Enhance the Indonesian National Police’s (POLRI) Strategy in Handling Human Trafficking of Cyber-based Slavery

Human trafficking has evolved beyond traditional forms of exploitation to encompass cyber-based slavery, a disturbing and increasingly prevalent method of trafficking facilitated through the internet. In this form, victims are coerced into working as online scammers and/or facilitate the online gambling. This issue is especially pervasive in Southeast Asia, with Cambodia, the Philippines, and Myanmar serving as major hotspots for cyber-based trafficking. Perpetrators exploit the internet to recruit, deceive, and control individuals for forced labor in online scam operations. Many Indonesian citizens have fallen victim to this form of slavery. However, efforts by the Indonesian National Police (POLRI) to combat cyber slavery are often hindered by lack of coordination between directorates under BARESKRIM, limited number of regional police offices that have dedicated directorate for Human Trafficking Crimes, inadequate police to police bilateral cooperation and lack of inter-ministerial and nation-wide agency coordination. This paper explores the role of POLRI in addressing the rise of cyber-based slavery, focusing on a case study of POLRI's involvement in assisting the repatriation of victims from the Philippines. The analysis reveals significant opportunities for improvement at both national and regional levels in POLRI's response to this issue. The paper argues that to address the growing threat of cyber-based slavery effectively, POLRI must adopt a triangular synergy to enhance the capacity of the National Criminal Investigation Unit (BARESKRIM) including through coordination and collaboration between the newly established Directorate for Crimes Against Women, Children, and Human Trafficking (Direktorat Tindak Pidana Perempuan dan Anak serta Pidana Perdagangan Orang - Dirtipid PPA-PPO) and the Directorate of Cybercrime (Direktorat Tindak Pidana Siber) under BARESKRIM and the establishment of regional Directorates for Crimes Against Women, Children, and Human Trafficking (DIRTIPID PPA PPO) in areas with high vulnerability to cyber trafficking; fostering bilateral police-to-police cooperation, ASEAN regional cooperation and deploying police attachés to Southeast Asian countries affected by cyber-based slavery; and strengthening inter-ministerial and nationwide agency cooperation.