Lombok, W. Nusa Tenggara. Indonesian immigration authorities have arrested 16 Bangladeshi nationals in Lombok suspected of being part of a transnational human smuggling syndicate en route to Australia, officials announced Monday.

The operation, led by the Mataram Class I Immigration Office in cooperation with the Directorate of Immigration Intelligence and backed by local police, uncovered the group hiding in three rented houses in the Senggigi residential complex in West Lombok.

"This firm action reflects our commitment to fighting transnational crimes, particularly human smuggling, which is becoming increasingly concerning," said Mirza Akbar, head of the Mataram Immigration Office.

Authorities said the group had used Indonesia as a transit point in a larger smuggling network promising illegal passage to Australia for work opportunities. The arrest followed a week-long surveillance based on intelligence reports that initially identified eight Bangladeshi nationals staying at a house in West Lombok.

Upon raiding the premises, officers found 16 individuals believed to be part of the same network. According to preliminary investigations, the group had traveled through unofficial routes, avoiding immigration checks by entering Indonesia from Malaysia via Dumai in Riau using so-called “rat routes.” From there, they traveled by land to Jakarta, continued to Bali, and eventually arrived in Lombok.

“This is an organized network using strategic yet hidden locations to avoid detection,” Mirza said.

Only 10 of the 16 individuals had passports; the rest lacked any travel documents. Officials also confiscated mobile phones, savings books, and other evidence. Authorities believe the group planned to depart from East Lombok by sea, a suspected launch point for illegal crossings to Australia.

Initial findings suggest six of the 16 individuals are victims of smuggling, while the other 10 may have acted as agents. One of the suspected agents is married to an Indonesian citizen and holds a valid residence permit, raising suspicions that he may have coordinated the network from within the country.

“There are no Indonesians directly involved, but one suspect with an Indonesian spouse may be the main coordinator,” Mirza noted.

The group reportedly stayed in Lombok for two weeks without engaging in any productive activity, further raising suspicions. Investigations are ongoing to identify the full scope of the network and its agents.

The 16 Bangladeshi nationals are being processed under Indonesia’s Immigration Law, which carry prison sentences of one to five years. Authorities said legal proceedings may result in either prosecution or deportation.