Immigration destroys human trafficking network in Kota Baru

PETALING JAYA: A special operation by the Immigration Department has dismantled a major Rohingya human trafficking network with the arrest of six suspects aged between 24 and 35 in Kota Baru, Kelantan.

The suspects, mainly of Rohingya ethnicity, were apprehended on Saturday (June 1) by the Special Tactical Team (Pastak) of Intelligence and Special Operations at the Putrajaya Immigration Headquarters with the assistance of the Immigration Department of Putrajaya. Kelantan.

Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslan Jusoh said the operation was carried out after three weeks of intelligence reports and public information.

“A plan was made and the team took action after spotting a car being driven by an individual in a suspicious manner. The suspect then drove off after seeing the immigration team's car, but was arrested at Kota Baru Express Bus Terminal.

“After verification, the special operation apprehended two Rohingyas, suspected to be the 'transporters' and 'helpers' with two other Rohingyas suspected to be taken to Kuala Lumpur,” Ruslan said in a statement on Monday (June 3).

“Two more Rohingyas were also arrested from a premises in Kota Baru, bringing the total number of people arrested to six,” he said.

Ruslan said four of the Rohingya suspects had UNHCR cards while two others had no documents or valid passes to enter the country.

“The team seized two UNHCR documents believed to be fake, RM2,000 in cash and the vehicle used to transport the illegal immigrants.

“The syndicate's modus operandi is to smuggle illegal immigrants into the country at the border, placing them in transit houses before transporting them to Kuala Lumpur in express buses accompanied by Rohingya from Kuala Lumpur,” he said. -he explained.

Ruslan said these illegal immigrants were given fake documents from UNHCR to deceive authorities, with the union charging RM500 each for transportation to Kuala Lumpur and RM100 for their travel around Kota Baru.

He said the union had been in operation for a year.

“Three Rohingya are detained on suspicion of offenses under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM).

Ruslan said three other people were being detained on suspicion of offenses under Section 6 (3) of the Immigration Act and were being held at the immigration depot in Tanah Merah, Kelantan.