JAKARTA (THE JAKARTA POST/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - National Police investigators have arrested two suspects for allegedly running a human trafficking ring in Fiji.

This marks the first recorded trafficking of Indonesian nationals to the south pacific island, said Adj Sr Comr Arie Dharmanto, the head of the human trafficking unit.

He said on Wednesday the suspects were arrested in Ngawi, East Java, after recruiting 12 victims on the promise of legitimate jobs with high salaries.

The victims ended up being forced to work as construction workers at an army camp. They were not given work permits and were paid only FJD$4 (S$2.60) per hour.

Arie said they have been deported after being discovered by the local immigration.

If found guilty, the two suspects face up to 15 years imprisonment.