KUALA LUMPUR: Eighty-five individuals, including seventeen children, believed to be victims of human trafficking and forced labour, have been rescued in a massive nationwide operation.
The operation, codenamed "Ops Pintas Mega", conducted by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) anti-trafficking in persons and anti-smuggling of migrants division (D3) along with other enforcement agencies, saw 36 raids conducted simultaneously nationwide on Thursday (May 8).
Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said victims rescued comprised 58 men, 10 women, 16 boys and a girl.
"Some were locals while others were from the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar.
"Most were victims of human trafficking for the purpose of exploitation and forced labour," he said on Friday (May 9).
Also detained during the special operation were 175 suspects consisting of locals and foreigners.
"The foreigners were from Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Myanmar, Nepal and China," he said.
Comm Mohd Shuhaily said the operation aimed to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking in the services and plantation sectors as well as children exploited by begging syndicates.
"Our operation is based on the National Guideline on Human Trafficking Indicators (NGHTI) 2.0," he added.
Investigations are being conducted under Section 12 and 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007; Section 55B and Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, he said.
Other government agencies involved in the operation were the Immigration Department, Environment Department, Labour Department and local authorities.
