PETALING JAYA: A special operation against migrant smuggling led to the arrest of 35 foreigners and three Malaysians.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said that the raid on Dec 8 in Kota Baru, Kelantan, was the result of a three-month investigation and intelligence-gathering period.
A total of eight vehicles, believed to be ferrying illegal immigrants, were stopped at a public parking area.
"During the inspection, the group of transporters acted aggressively and attempted to flee by speeding off, leading to them also ramming into several other vehicles including an operations team vehicle. All were successfully apprehended.
"Several illegal immigrants also managed to exit the vehicles and tried to escape by hiding in nearby bushes, but they were found by the operations team," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Dec 9).
The transporters, three Malaysians led by a suspect that was dubbed "Mat Sero" and a Myanmar man, were also arrested.
"Also detained were 35 foreign nationals comprising 22 Myanmar men, 12 Myanmar women, and one Myanmar girl. All detainees were aged between 5 and 45 years old," he said.
Investigations showed that the group, aided by their Myanmarese counterparts, brought illegal immigrants into Kelantan through illicit routes. They were then handed over to local transporters that would send them to areas within the Klang Valley.
Each person ferried was charged between RM400 and RM500 per person, depending on the distance travelled. It is believed that they had been active for the last six months.
Investigations are being conducted under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
All have been brought to the Kelantan Immigration Department headquarters for further action.
