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KOTA BHARU – A syndicate smuggling illegal immigrants has been detected charging up to RM11,000 per person for Myanmar nationals to enter Malaysia through illegal routes before transporting them to Kuala Lumpur to work as labourers.
Meanwhile, Nepalis are believed to be charged RM7,000 per person for the same journey.
General Operations Force (GOF) Southeast Brigade Commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said this was based on initial investigation details gathered from the arrest of eight illegal immigrants, comprising four Myanmar nationals and four Nepalis, in two separate operations at the Kota Bharu Bus Terminal on Tuesday.
According to him, the first arrest at 7am involved four Myanmar men aged between 19 and 28, who were believed to have been brought by boat from Thailand before landing at an illegal jetty along the banks of the Kelantan River.
"Initial investigations revealed that each Myanmar national was charged RM11,000 for the entire journey from their home country before being sent to the Kota Bharu Bus Terminal to continue their journey to Kuala Lumpur, having been promised employment as labourers," he told reporters on Wednesday.
He added that an hour later, the Battalion 7 GOF Task Force team detained three men and one woman from Nepal at the same location after they were dropped off by a Honda Accord, which then fled the scene upon noticing the authorities.
He stated that the Nepal group was believed to have been brought in by boat via the coast of Kampung Nelayan Baru, Tumpat, before being sent to the Kota Bharu Bus Terminal.
"They are believed to have paid RM7,000 each to the syndicate for the journey from their home country to Malaysia after being promised jobs as labourers in Kuala Lumpur," he said.
Radzi said checks revealed all the illegal immigrants failed to produce valid travel documents and were believed to have entered the country through unrecognised routes.
He said authorities also seized eight mobile phones of various brands with a total estimated value of RM12,000.
"The case is being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, whilst all the illegal immigrants have been handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Kota Bharu District Police Headquarters for further action," he said.
