MUAR: Police have busted a syndicate believed to be involved in the smuggling of illegal immigrants into the country following a raid at a lodging house in Bakri here.
Muar OCPD Asst Comm Raiz Mukhliz Azman Aziz said police raided the premises located along Jalan Bukit Bakri at around 1.28am on Saturday morning (Nov 8).
“My men detained 15 Myanmar nationals, consisting of 12 men and three women aged between 21 and 39, during the operation under Ops Pintas.
“Initial investigations showed that one of the men acted as the transporter, while three others were believed to be agents and caretakers of the transit house. The remaining 11 individuals did not possess valid travel documents,” he said here on Saturday.
ACP Raiz Mukhliz added that the migrants were believed to have entered the country through illegal routes along the southern border before being brought to the house to await further arrangements.
He said police also seized communication devices, an undisclosed amount of cash and a car, which was believed to have been used to transport the migrants.
“The case is being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007, as well as Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act 1959/63,” he added.
ACP Raiz Mukhliz said the four main suspects have been remanded for 28 days under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), while the remaining detainees were remanded for 14 days under the Immigration Act.
“Police will continue to intensify enforcement operations to combat migrant smuggling and human trafficking activities.
“Public cooperation is crucial in providing information to ensure these crimes can be curbed effectively,” he added.
