Sarawak Immigration Cracks Down On Migrant Smuggling In Lundu

KUCHING, April 2 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak Immigration Department has foiled a migrant smuggling ring, arresting 16 foreigners during Ops Serkap raid near the Biawak border in Lundu today.

In a Facebook post, the department said the operation was launched based on intelligence about human trafficking routes near the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex in Biawak.

“During this morning’s operation, the team tracked and followed two vehicles believed to be carrying migrants from the forest before intercepting them by the roadside near Lorong Opek 8, Jalan Biawak.

“The inspection resulted in the arrest of 12 men and four women, all foreign nationals, for lacking valid travel documents,” read the post.

The post added that the two vehicles used by the foreign nationals were also seized in the operation, which involved nine officers from the department’s Special Action Task Force.

It said all individuals have been taken to the enforcement office for further action, with investigations under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) and Sections 5(1), 6(1)(c), and 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

-- BERNAMA