Jakarta, Aug. 10 -- The Indonesian Ministry for the Protection of Migrant Workers (KP2MI) thwarted an attempt to send 22 prospective illegal migrant workers to Malaysia and arrested two men who were arranging their departure.

The preventive action was the result of a joint operation conducted by the Riau Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Service Center (BP3MI) and the Riau Regional Police's General Criminal Investigation Directorate, according to a statement from KP2MI on Saturday.

Head of BP3MI Riau, Fanny Wahyu Kurniawan, said the operation began with information received in the early hours of Saturday about suspected human trafficking (TPPO), which was immediately followed up by a joint team.

"The team saw five victims waiting t...