Malaysia’s Immigration Department arrests 27 migrants, 3 facilitators, dismantling ‘Geng Ashraf’ syndicate that earned RM2.4 million from illegal trafficking.
PETALING JAYA: The Immigration Department has crippled a transnational migrant smuggling syndicate believed to have generated over RM2 million by trafficking undocumented migrants into Malaysia through an organised cross-border network.
Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban confirmed that the syndicate, known as “Geng Ashraf”, was dismantled during a raid on a residential property in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, at 12.40am.
The operation also led to the arrest of three Bangladeshi nationals suspected of acting as facilitators and caretakers of the transit house.
“During the raid, the operation team was forced to breach the gate and the front door of the premises to gain entry.
“Once inside, we conducted inspections and subsequently detained 27 Bangladeshi men suspected of having been smuggled into the country,” Zakaria said in a statement today.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the migrants had entered a neighbouring country approximately three days prior to their arrival in Malaysia.
The syndicate has been active since January 2025. Their smuggling route involved transporting foreign nationals through a third country before entering Malaysia illegally via Kelantan.
The migrants were then taken directly to the Klang Valley before being dispatched to specific destinations across the country.
“With payments of up to RM8,000 per migrant, the syndicate is estimated to have earned approximately RM2.4 million since it commenced operations,” Zakaria said.
All detainees, aged between 20 and 49, have been placed at the Putrajaya Immigration Depot for further investigation under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Atipsom).
