Illegal Immigrant Smuggling Syndicate Dismantled, 18 Arrested

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- General Operations Force (GOF) Central Brigade dismantled an illegal immigrant smuggling syndicate, with the arrest of 18 individuals, following a series of raids conducted in Selangor and Melaka recently.

Central Brigade commander SAC Hakemal Hawari said the raids conducted on Oct 10 and 11 were based on intelligence gathered and a special operation launched following the July 28 incident, in which a vehicle believed to be transporting undocumented migrants rammed through a police roadblock in Pulau Carey.

“Following the incident, a special team was formed to gather information and conduct comprehensive surveillance. As a result, on Oct 10, we conducted five raids in Selangor and one in Melaka,” he said at a press conference here today.

Hakemal said the first arrest took place at 3 am on Jalan Pulau Carey when GOF personnel detained a foreign man driving a Toyota Vios without valid travel documents, believed to be acting as a transporter.

“The arrest led to subsequent operations that resulted in the detention of several more suspects, including at the Teluk Panglima Garang Toll Plaza, Kampung Melayu Nagsyabandiah in Semenyih, Kuala Langat, Rawang, and the southbound Kampung Bemban rest and service area,” he said.

He said the operation led to the arrest of 18 individuals in their 30s, comprising 17 Indonesians and one local. Five of the suspects detained were identified as skippers, agents and transporters, while the rest were illegal immigrants attempting to be smuggled in.

“The syndicate is believed to have operated in groups, earning between RM1,500 and RM2,500 for each undocumented migrant smuggled in or out of the country using illegal routes along the Selangor coastline.

“The group operated dynamically by regularly changing landing spots to evade detection by authorities, with common landing areas including Pulau Carey, Morib and Kelanang,” he said.

Hakemal said the case is being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM) for the five main suspects, while the remaining 13 are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63.

“All suspects are currently remanded for 28 days under ATIPSOM and 12 days under the Immigration Act for further investigation,” he said.

He also urged the public, especially residents in Selangor’s coastal areas, to share any information on migrant smuggling activities with the police to help curb the crime.

-- BERNAMA