Jakarta. The Indonesian Police said on Wednesday they have arrested 642 suspects charged with human trafficking during a crackdown this month alone.

"As of today, we have uncovered 553 [human trafficking] cases involving as many as 642 suspects," said Brig. Gen. Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, the director of the general crime division with the National Police.

Police also rescued 1,826 victims during the ongoing crackdown on people smuggling syndicates from June 5-27, he said.

Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo established the anti-people smuggling task force early this month and appointed Insp. Gen. Asep Edi Suheri, the deputy head of the criminal investigation agency, as the task force’s head.

The task force was set up following directives from President Joko Widodo, who also initiated a regional response to combat people smuggling in Southeast Asia during Indonesia’s chairmanship of ASEAN this year.

The task force’s main task is to identify human trafficking networks across Indonesia and take measures against them in a coordinated campaign with provincial police offices countrywide.