ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia has launched a new digital tool designed to help law enforcement identify victims of human trafficking and forced labor aboard commercial fishing vessels, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to combat maritime crime in one of the world’s busiest fishing regions.
The mobile application, known as PESISIR (Monitoring and Screening of Human Trafficking Risk Indicators), was tested on June 6 aboard an Indonesian National Police vessel at Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta.
The initiative is supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) and implemented in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Developed over a 33-month collaboration between INL and IOM, the web-based platform is designed to assist Indonesia’s maritime police in detecting potential victims of trafficking among fishing crews operating in Indonesian and regional waters.
“ The United States is proud to partner with Indonesia to strengthen maritime security and combat human trafficking,” said Aqueelah Johnson, Director of INL at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta quoted on June 25, 2026.
She added that enhancing Indonesia’s capacity to address maritime threats also contributes to safeguarding critical international shipping routes and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
The application provides audio support in eight languages — Indonesian, English, Vietnamese, Thai, Khmer, Burmese, Tagalog, and Simplified Chinese — reflecting the multinational nature of fishing crews and trafficking victims often found across Southeast Asia’s maritime sector.
According to project officials, PESISIR was refined through extensive consultations and simulation exercises involving Indonesian law enforcement agencies.
Following the completion of the project this month, the platform will be made available to multiple Indonesian institutions, including the National Police, the Indonesian Maritime Security Agency (BAKAMLA), and the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas).
The initiative comes amid growing international concern over labor exploitation, forced labor, and human trafficking in global fisheries supply chains. Southeast Asia has long been identified as a hotspot for trafficking networks that exploit migrant workers aboard distant-water fishing fleets, often operating across multiple jurisdictions.
For Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelagic nation, strengthening maritime enforcement is increasingly viewed as a critical component of both national security and human rights protection. Authorities hope the new technology will improve victim identification, evidence collection, and inter-agency coordination in tackling transnational organized crime at sea.
The project also highlights expanding U.S.-Indonesia cooperation on maritime governance and law enforcement, reflecting broader efforts by both countries to address non-traditional security threats across the Indo-Pacific.
As trafficking syndicates continue to adapt their operations across regional waters, officials believe digital tools such as PESISIR could become an important frontline defense in protecting vulnerable workers and disrupting criminal networks operating beyond national borders. (AT Network)
Follow Us at Google News and WA Channel