RI Immigration Deports Chinese Nationals Over Cross-Border Love Scam Syndicate

RRI.CO.ID, Tangerang - Indonesia’s immigration authorities have dismantled a suspected international love scam network involving three Chinese nationals, exposing a cross-border scheme of arranged marriages that targeted Indonesian women. The case was revealed by the Soekarno-Hatta Class I Special Immigration Office (TPI Soetta) in Tangerang, Banten, on Saturday, June 27, 2026.

Head of the Immigration Office, Galih P. Kartika Perdhana, said three Chinese citizens -- identified by initials CS, FG, and CX -- were found to be part of the syndicate. “This enforcement action reflects Immigration’s commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty while protecting Indonesian citizens,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

The investigation began on June 4, when immigration officers grew suspicious after an Indonesian woman, FNR, applied for a new passport. Although she claimed she was traveling to Malaysia for tourism, further inquiries revealed she was being arranged to marry a Chinese man through an intermediary, AN.

Immigration’s intelligence and enforcement team traced the network to CS, known as “Uncle,” who acted as coordinator. CS was arrested at Soekarno-Hatta’s Terminal 3 on June 12, just before leaving Indonesia. Follow-up operations on June 17 at an apartment in Tangerang led to the arrest of FG and CX, along with three Indonesian women -- SA, PY, and PO -- believed to be victims.

Investigations showed victims were promised better economic prospects through marriage. Prospective husbands reportedly paid around RMB 60,000 RMB (USD 8,398) to CS, with RMB 20,000 (USD 2,799) given to victims’ families as dowry. The remainder covered travel documents, visas, certificates of single status, accommodation, and departure costs.

Immigration authorities deported CS, FG, and CX on Friday, June 26, 2026, via a Jakarta–Guangzhou flight. They were also placed on Indonesia’s blacklist to prevent re-entry.

Galih emphasized that the investigation will continue to uncover the full extent of the syndicate and any additional parties involved. “We will keep pursuing leads to expose the wider network behind this cross-border marriage scam,” he concluded.

This case highlights the growing complexity of transnational human exploitation and underscores the role of immigration enforcement in protecting vulnerable citizens from deceptive schemes. ***