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JOHOR BARU: Johor police have arrested 30 suspects involved in human trafficking across the border with immigrants from Indonesia.
Johor Police Chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the arrests were made during a series of raids carried out between May 2 and 7 under the joint operation Pin Pintas Bersepadu Selatan, a joint operation involving multiple agencies .
“The arrests consisted of 12 boat skippers (tekong) and 18 illegal immigrants between the ages of 22 and 53.
“Of the 30 collected, six were women, four of them are Indonesian. As for the men, 20 of them are from Indonesia, two from Bangladesh and the rest are local men, ”he said during a press conference at the Johor police headquarters on Tuesday (May 12).
He added that the arrests were made on beaches and in barricades.
Police also confiscated four vehicles, a fiberglass boat with a 40 hp motor, RM2,531 in cash, including Rs.4 thousand banknotes (RM1,278).
The case is investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) of 2007, which establishes a prison sentence of up to 15 years or a fine or both convicted.
Comm Ayob said that during the entire period of the movement control order (MCO), from March 18 to May 11, a total of 150 people were arrested for participating in human trafficking.
“Sixty of the suspects are ship captains, while the remaining 90 are immigrants,” he said.
Those arrested are also being investigated under Section 6 (1) (C) of the Immigration Act of 1959/63, which establishes a fine of not more than RM10,000 or a jail of up to five years, or both, and up to six strokes of whipping in conviction.
The joint operation was carried out by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM) and the Immigration Department (JIM).
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