West Jakarta Police uncovered an alleged human trafficking syndicate during a raid on a house in the Kebon Jeruk area of West Jakarta Tuesday evening.
Police chief Sr. Comr. Iza Fidri said Wednesday that they had questioned 18 women who were allegedly on their way to be sold in Taiwan.
"Unfortunately, the house's owners have escaped, and we're now searching for them," he said, as quoted by Antara news agency.
The women said the owners had promised to send them overseas to work as migrant workers and they did not know if the plan was illegal.
The owners, Taiwan nationals, could have violated the 2007 law on human trafficking which carries a sentence of 15 years in jail. (ewd)
