Immigration thwarts syndicate smuggling foreigners

KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department has foiled an attempt by a syndicate to smuggle six undocumented Myanmar nationals into Kelantan, thanks to the public.

The six illegals and two local men were detained by immigration officers following an operation in several districts in Kelantan.

Immigration department director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said following surveillance and intelligence gathering, the department tracked down a vehicle believed to be transporting undocumented foreigners on Feb 21.

“The suspect was using the Kubang Kerian-pasir Puteh route. The raiding team managed to catch up to the vehicle and instructed the driver to stop but he sped off. However, they managed to intercept the vehicle at Simpang Tiga, Jalan Bukit Marakjalan Peringat in Bachok,” Ruslin said in a statement.

The vehicle was driven by a local man believed to be the syndicate’s transporter, he said.

“We also detained three men and three women from Myanmar, aged between 17 and 25. They were enroute from a transit home to a destination chosen by the syndicate,” he added.

The investigation led the raiding team to a house in Demit, Kota Baru, believed to have been used as a transit home for the syndicate.

“We detained a local man in his 40s, believed to be the house caretaker, and seized RM4,500 cash and a mobile phone,” Ruslin said.

“The syndicate pays the transporter between RM1,000 and RM1,200 for each trip,” he added.

A total of 15 officers were involved in the operation, which began at 11pm on Feb 21.