KUALA LUMPUR: The hope of 28 Indonesians seeking a new livelihood in Malaysia was dashed when they were detained for entering the country illegally.
The group, aged between 20 and 50, were arrested in a General Operations Force (GOF) operation codenamed Ops Taring Nyah 1 at Kampung Sungai Air Tawar in Sabak Bernam, Selangor, last Wednesday.
Also detained were seven local men believed to have acted as land skippers for the illegal migrants.
Central Brigade GOF commander Senior Asst Comm Hakemal Hawari said each foreigner is believed to have paid between RM1,500 and RM2,000 to the land skippers to facilitate their entry into the country.
“The raid also led to the seizure of six cars and a motorcycle. Seven mobile phones believed to have been used in smuggling activities were also seized.
“The total value of the seizure is estimated at RM360,000,” he told a press conference at the Central Brigade GOF headquarters here yesterday.
On the brigade’s overall operations this year, SAC Hakemal said so far, 11 raids had been carried out under Ops Taring Nyah 1, resulting in 247 arrests and seizures worth an estimated RM1.5mil.
In other operations conducted in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor over the same period, a total of 662 arrests were made, with seizures valued at RM257mil.
