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JOHOR BARU: Some 24 illegal immigrants, including 10 involved in a human trafficking union, have been arrested by authorities here.
Johor Police Chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the police, along with the Armed Forces (ATM), the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the Customs Department and the Immigration Department had crushed a human trafficking union following the arrest of 20 of its members, 10 of whom are local, in a series of raids.
“The arrests were made in nine raids between April 22 and 27 in the Iskandar Puteri and Kota Tinggi areas.
“The union’s 20 members consist of nine local men, one local woman, as well as nine Indonesian men and one Indonesian woman, all aged 20 to 57,” he said during a press conference on Thursday (April 30).
He said authorities also seized an imitation pistol, eight live bullets, a Protona Wira used to transport immigrants, 27 mobile phones, 3.95 thousand Indonesian rupiah (RM1,132) and RM2,000 in cash.
Police have identified several masterminds, including those who work for the authorities, Comm Ayob said.
“There are about 20 unions in the state that we have identified, and their members also consist of those who work for the authorities.
“Don’t be surprised if someone from one of these organizations is also arrested,” he said.
Comm Ayob added that in two separate cases, the MMEA detained 11 immigrants in Pantai Kampung Wakaf, Teluk Ramunia, while Bayu Damai police detained eight others.
These 19 additional immigrants are between 22 and 45 years old.
It also warned owners, owners, and drivers of buses and taxis not to get involved in the housing and transportation of immigrants.
Cases are investigated under Section 26A of the Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom), Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, Sections 8 and 36 of the Weapons Act of 1960, as well as Rule 11 of the 2020 Regulation of Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (PCID).
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