Jakarta. Indonesian authorities have repatriated three women identified as suspected victims of a human trafficking network from Libya, following coordination with foreign counterparts and multiple government agencies, police said on Wednesday.

The women, identified only by their initials NAR, SS, and NKR, arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Tuesday and have since entered a government protection and recovery program, Jakarta Metropolitan Police spokesman Onkoseno Grandiarso Sukahar said.

The three women are believed to have been recruited with promises of well-paid jobs in Turkey, but were instead sent to Libya, where they allegedly worked without pay.

"We urge the public to be more cautious when seeking employment overseas and to use only licensed recruitment agencies operating in accordance with Indonesian law," Onkoseno said.

The repatriation follows the recent dismantling of an alleged human trafficking network by the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, which named two Indonesian nationals as suspects.

Police believe the network sent at least 105 Indonesian migrant workers abroad between 2023 and 2026, according to Jakarta Metropolitan Police Director of General Criminal Investigation Chief Commissioner Iman Imanuddin.

The investigation began on July 3, he said.

Investigators allege the victims were initially recruited to work as domestic helpers in Turkey with promised monthly salaries of around Rp 7 million ($391). To gain the families' trust, recruiters allegedly paid up to Rp 3 million to each victim's relatives.

However, after completing administrative requirements, including passports, visas, and medical examinations, the victims were allegedly flown from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Libya instead.

According to police, the victims were subjected to severe exploitation after arriving in Libya. They allegedly received no wages, had their passports confiscated, were denied adequate food, faced restrictions on their freedom of movement, and suffered physical and psychological abuse.

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