International airports streamline travel and connect people around the world. However, they are also hotbeds for people smuggling and trafficking in persons. The detection of high-risk travelers— including potential smugglers, traffickers, and victims of trafficking— is crucial for reducing illicit activities at borders. It is equally critical to be able to provide the necessary assistance and protection to vulnerable individuals and potential victims.
The Regional Support Office of the Bali Process (RSO) delivered its second Regional Border Management by Air course to 27 immigration and border control officers from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, in partnership with the Australian Border Force, in Jakarta, Indonesia from 3rd to 7th June. This workshop was made possible by administrative support from the Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement and Cooperation (JCLEC). The workshop enhanced the capabilities of participants to verify travel documents and traveler assessments, and, deepened their understanding of legal frameworks, information and data collection, and corruption risks.
The first day kicked off with a module on understanding international laws governing human trafficking and people smuggling. Discussions delved into the push and pull factors that contribute to these issues, with a focus on both regional trends and country-specific contexts. Other sessions covered topics on the non-criminalisation of smuggled migrants and victims of trafficking, as well as the ratification of relevant United Nations conventions, and concluded with case studies and participant presentations.
The second day was led by an Airline Liaison Officer (ALO) from the Australian Border Force, and delved in the role of ALOs, the risks and indicators of human trafficking, and practical exercises. Participants learned to distinguish between genuine, counterfeit, and fraudulently altered documents, using tools like torches, UV lights, magnifiers, and their own phones to complete the exercise.
The third day’s session focused on traveler assessments, during which participants learned different techniques and skills to identify potential imposters. The session explored how some indicators warrant further investigation through questioning and requesting secondary identification. An understanding of these principles and characteristics will help participants verify the legitimacy of travel documents and detect potential imposters.
The fourth day focused on information collection, which emphasised the importance of effective information gathering techniques and how to request relevant information to produce useful intelligence. The session also touched upon the values and challenges of information sharing, both formally and informally.
Participants from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand, shared trends, modus operandi and challenges border officials in each country face. They discussed the geographical challenges, examples of cases related to trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants in each of their countries, the emerging trends of trafficking methods, and immigration challenges. Notable findings were exchanged regarding cases, laws that may require revision, human resource and budget limitations, the need for continuing professional development, and porous borders among others.
2022 Border Management by Air alumni Rifqi Hadrianto, an immigration officer at Depok Polytechnic Immigration, also shared his personal experiences at the training. He reflected on his encounters with forged travel documents and flagging potential victims or perpetrators of trafficking and smuggling activities at Kalanamu International Airport in Medan, where he was previously stationed.
The RSO guided participants to reflect on their learnings and relevant experiences each day. Each participant was tasked with developing a Return-to-Work Action Plan, aiming to translate new learning and skills into tangible improvements in their respective operations. All participants will be invited to discuss and evaluate the progress made in implementing their Return-to-Action Plans in the upcoming months. Participants were also officially inducted into the RSO Alumni Network, where they will be able to access ongoing networking, peer-to-peer learning and collaboration, information sharing, and leadership development opportunities.
The RSO extends its appreciation to all frontline officers and event co-organisers for contributing to the success of the 2024 Bali Process Regional Workshop on Border Management by Air.
