KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 27 people, including 22 foreigners, were detained as the Immigration Department busted a migrant smuggling syndicate in Kota Baru, Kelantan.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation, which began at about 6.30am on Wednesday (April 8), led to the arrest of two local men believed to be acting as “receivers” for the syndicate.
“Further interrogation led the team to raid a residential premises suspected to be used as a transit house, where another local man believed to be the mastermind was detained,” he said in a statement on Friday (April 10).
He added that two more local men, believed to be transporters, were also arrested along with 22 foreign nationals.
“The foreigners comprised two Indian men, three Bangladeshi men, as well as eight Myanmar men and nine Myanmar women.
“In total, 27 individuals aged between 13 and 42 years old were detained during the operation,” he said.
Several items, including three Bangladeshi passports, two Indian passports, four Myanmar passports, mobile phones of various brands, and five vehicles were seized during the operation.
Zakaria said investigations revealed that the syndicate had changed its modus operandi by bringing in undocumented migrants via coastal routes before placing them in transit houses to avoid detection.
“The migrants would then be transported to locations around the Klang Valley.
“The transporter charged RM100 per person, while the receiver was paid RM250 per person,” he said.
He added that the alleged mastermind, linked to a group known as “Geng Borhan”, had previously been arrested but continued to engage in similar activities.
All those detained have been taken to the Kelantan Immigration Office for further action, he added.
Zakaria said the department would continue to intensify operations and would not compromise with those involved in migrant smuggling activities to safeguard national security and sovereignty.
He also urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
