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A MIGRANT smuggling syndicate known as ‘Geng Sojul’ has been uncovered following the arrest of two men and the detention of 20 foreign nationals in coordinated raids at Kuchai Lama, where a condominium was used as a transit and hiding location.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said a local man and a Bangladeshi national, believed to be transporters for the syndicate, were arrested on Sunday.
“In addition, 20 foreign nationals aged between 18 and 49, who are suspected of being smuggled into the country, were also detained during the operation,” he said in a statement on Monday.
Zakaria said the syndicate, believed to have been active since December last year, offered services to bring foreign nationals into Malaysia via third countries before entering illegally through Kelantan.
The migrants were then transported to the Klang Valley and subsequently sent to designated destinations.
“The syndicate charged RM12,000 for each migrant smuggled and is believed to have earned about RM1.2 million since it began operating,” he said.
He said the first interception took place at about 1.30pm, when a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a sports utility vehicle believed to be transporting smuggled migrants were stopped in the parking area of a supermarket along Jalan Kuchai Lama.
“Following inspections, six Bangladeshi men, one Bangladeshi woman and one Myanmar man were detained,” he said.
A follow-up raid was then conducted at a condominium in Kuchai Lama, suspected to be the syndicate’s transit and safe house.
“As a result, 12 Bangladeshi men believed to have recently arrived from a neighbouring country and who were waiting to be sent to several southern states and around the Klang Valley were detained,” Zakaria said.
He added that two vehicles, several Bangladeshi passports, RM82,100 in cash and US$3,700 in foreign currency were seized during the operation.
“All individuals detained have been placed at the Putrajaya Immigration Depot for further investigations for suspected offences under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Immigration Regulations 1963 and the Passport Act 1966,” he said. - February 2, 2026