IPOH: The police have arrested 34 foreign migrants who were trying to go to Indonesia in Bagan Datuk.
Perak police chief Comm Noor Hisam Nordin said those arrested consisted of 30 Indonesians and four from Bangladesh during an operation that started at 6.15pm Friday (Feb 13) and ended at 8.55am on Saturday (Feb 14).
Comm Noor Hisam said police acted on a tip-off and first found 29 of the migrants hiding among some thickets near an oil palm estate in Sungai Payung in Selekoh.
"Those arrested included four Bangladesh nationals and the rest were Indonesians, aged between 18 and 55 years old.
"They were gathered with their bags, believed to be trying to go to Indonesia via boats," he said in a statement.
"On Saturday (Feb 14) at about 8.56am, the police arrested five more Indonesian migrants, age between 20 and 36 years old near Jalan Kampung Sungai Payung," he added.
Comm Noor Hisam said the police also arrested a 44-year-old man, who is said to be a boat captain and a transporter, 31, both from Indonesia during the sting.
"Along with the boat captain, they were in charge of food and transportation.
"Both are being remanded under Section 4(5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act for 28 days from Feb 14 until March 13," he added.
He said the 34 migrants would be remanded for 14 days under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act
"They will be brought to the Immigration Department in Ipoh for identification.
"The case will also be investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act and Section 6(1) of the Immigration Act," he said, adding that the success of the operation was due to the continued cooperation with the people.
"We urge the people to continue channeling information related to crimes so that actions can be taken to prevent them while ensuring the state is safe and peaceful," he added.
