Stranded Uzbek Nationals in Alor Transferred to Kupang Immigration

RRI.CO.ID, Kupang - Six Uzbekistani nationals were stranded on a remote beach in Alor Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), after their motorboat suffered an engine failure. Local fishermen discovered the group walking along the coast of Kampung Air Panas Beach in Bandar Village, Pantar Subdistrict, on July 3, 2026.

The incident prompted a swift humanitarian evacuation by personnel from the Pantar Sector Police, supported by the regional administration and related agencies, who provided medical aid, food, and initial screening.

Following preliminary investigations, authorities found that most of the foreigners had allegedly breached Indonesian immigration laws by overstaying their residency permits.

“Their statements are still being investigated because there is some information that needs further verification,” East Nusa Tenggara Regional Police Spokesperson Police Com. Henry Novika Chandra said in Kupang on Friday, July 10, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

The Uzbek nationals told investigators that their vessel’s engine failed mid-journey, leaving them adrift until they ran aground on Alor’s shores. Authorities remain vigilant as parts of their travel itinerary remain unclear.

Beyond verifying identities and passports, border officials are pursuing an Indonesian citizen suspected of acting as the vessel’s captain or logistical coordinator.

After initial processing at Alor Police headquarters, the foreigners were escorted aboard a ferry from Kalabahi ASDP Port to Kupang on Wednesday, July 8, arriving the following evening.

They were formally handed over to the Class I TPI Kupang Immigration Office, marked by the signing of transfer papers and the surrender of seized passports.

NTT Regional Police Chief Ins. Gen. Rudi Darmoko praised the inter-agency speed and professionalism displayed during the operation, calling it a blueprint for maritime border security.

“Inter-agency synergy is the key to maintaining border area security while ensuring that the handling of foreign nationals is carried out quickly, precisely, and according to procedure,” he said.

The provincial police have urged coastal residents and communities on outer islands to immediately report suspicious foreign vessels or unusual maritime activities to local law enforcement to prevent illegal entry networks from exploiting remote shores. ***