PETALING JAYA: A human trafficking syndicate has been busted following a raid by the Immigration Department in Kelantan.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said that the raid was conducted jointly with the Kelantan Immigration Department on Jan 17.
He said the operation focused on a premise used as a 'safe house' for migrants who were brought into the country via illegal routes.
"The premise was located in a remote village area that was difficult to detect, intended to evade the authorities, and was used as a transit base to house migrants who had recently been smuggled into the country.
"The raid resulted in the arrest of 12 Bangladeshi nationals,11 men and one woman, aged between 18 and 54. Also arrested was the safe house's caretaker – a 27-year-old Myanmar national of Rohingya ethnicity," he said.
Investigations showed that illegal routes along the Malaysia-Thailand border were used to bring in the migrants, who were then housed at the safe house before being sent to other areas.
"They were housed at the premises while awaiting settlement of the remaining entry fees before being sent to their next destination.
"The department is tracing the local owner of the premises, who is believed to have colluded with the syndicate by renting out and using his property as a transit centre for migrant smuggling activities," he said.
The syndicate is believed to have operated since 2024 and cooperated with overseas agents.
Zakaria said the main mastermind, a Bangladeshi national known as “Iqbal,” is believed to be operating from Thailand and charges between RM10,000 and RM15,000 per individual.
"The total profits gained by the syndicate are estimated to have reached RM1.5mil from these illegal activities," he said.
