Human trafficking syndicate busted in Immigration ops in Kelantan

PETALING JAYA: A human trafficking syndicate was busted in an Immigration Department operation in Kelantan when several transporters were caught in the act.

Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said that a raid was conducted at a transit home for the syndicate in the state on Monday (June 10).

He added in a statement on Saturday (June 15) that this led to another raid after the authorities received information that illegal immigrants were being transported to the Lembah Sireh express bus terminal.

"Checks around the terminal led to the arrests of 17 men and seven women, who we believe were waiting for a bus to reach a set destination.

"The syndicate is believed to have changed their modus operandi by recruiting motorcyclists to bring the illegal immigrants from the transit home to the bus terminal," he said.

He added that it is believed the syndicate charged between RM2,000 and RM3,000 for each to assist them in entering the country and then said that 33 illegal immigrants and two locals

Ruslin then said that the department will continue strict enforcement operations to curb migrant smuggling.