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Australia.  An Australian media report has accused Indonesian law enforcement officials of complicity in people-smuggling activities that have led to thousands of asylum seekers landing on Australian shores.

“Smuggler’s Paradise,” by reporter Sarah Ferguson, was broadcast on the investigative program “Four Corners” from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday.

“Australia’s attempts to stop the boats includes funding Indonesia’s immigration detention centers but, as Four Corners reveals, that policy is being undermined by corruption at senior levels in the Indonesian Immigration Department. In an investigation carried out over months, Four Corners has made the connection between the immigration racket, the smugglers and the military who protect the smugglers’ boats on their way to Australia,” the description for the episode on the ABC Web site said.

The expose followed Iraqi refugee Hussain Nasir “wearing a hidden camera into some of the most dangerous corners of Indonesian society.”

Twice cheated by smugglers, the report said Nasir had UNHCR refugee status and had been waiting in Indonesia for three years for a host country like Australia to offer resettlement.

It said he was determined to expose the smugglers and shut down the cartels. “I must destroy these bad people and the people behind them,” Nasir said.

According to the transcript of the program, available online, the expose followed Nasir to the office of Trimitra Tour and Travel company, in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, described as a secret hub for the smuggling trade.

There, Hussain met a woman called “Miss Flora,” who promised she could get immigration officials to release a group of Afghan refugees being held in detention.

“If I release people I release them legally. Legally, and the director is signing, the director of immigration,” Miss Flora said.

Hussain also met a people- smuggler named Mustafa, who “calls a contact in the Kupang police who’ll make sure the passengers aren’t arrested on their way to the boat.”

He also meets an army colonel called “Colonel Hotman” in the Borobodur Hotel in Jakarta.

“If I get fired, my family will need to be helped. I’d have to get at least five billion [rupiah]. But if I’m being pursued over just 500 million [rupiah], how am I going to feel?” Colonel Hotman said.

Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa was also interviewed. “I am trying not to look upset, but I think it’s quite fair to say it’s not a happy situation.”

The transcript said “Four Corners” supplied the information to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry and Department of Immigration.

“You give me the data, yeah. I’m serious. I don’t care about what is their the position, these people,” said Muhammad Indra, acting head of the Immigration department.

When sought for comment by the Jakarta Globe, National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Marwoto Soeto said they would act if presented with evidence.

“Have you seen the video? Are you sure where these police officials came from?” he said, adding “we cannot act if it is not clear.”

The Defense Ministry spokesman could not be reached for com ment.