Cops nab 24 illegals at Pasir Mas homestay after 'agents' arrested earlier

PASIR MAS: Four men, including a Myanmar national, were arrested by the police early Saturday (Jan 29) on suspicion of being "transporters" and "agents" for smuggling illegal immigrants into the country.

Pasir Mas OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Nasaruddin M Nasir said after the arrests, police were led to a homestay in Kampung Cherang Hangus near here, at about 1.20 am Saturday, where 24 Myanmar nationals, comprising six women and 18 men, were found.

He said police had earlier arrested two men, aged 22 and 24 years old respectively, in a suspicious vehicle that was stopped in Kampung Repek here.

Following inspections, it was found that the number plate of the car was false and the chassis number had been tampered with, ACP Nasaruddin said, adding that the 24-year-old suspect tested positive for methamphetamine and had a criminal record involving five previous offences.

"Both suspects admitted to being the ‘transporters’ to bring in illegal immigrants from Myanmar into the country.

They said that a Myanmar national known as ‘Apik' had initially picked up the Myanmar nationals at an illegal jetty in Lubok Gong near here.

"The 24 -year -old suspect also admitted that only he and his brother, who also acted as a ‘transporter’, knew Apik," he said in a statement Saturday.

ACP Nasaruddin said it was based on information provided by the two suspects that the police raided the homestay in Kampung Cherang Hangus and detained the 24 Myanmar nationals, aged between 20 and 40 years old.

He said the police also raided a house in Lubok Setol where they arrested the 24-year-old suspect’s younger brother, aged 22, before arresting "Apik”, who is in his 40s, at an unnumbered house in Kampung Tasik, Rantau Panjang.

The case is investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. - Bernama