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THE Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) have launched a joint hunt with Aseanapol and Interpol to dismantle a people-smuggling syndicate believed to be behind the recent deadly boat tragedy near the Malaysia–Thailand maritime border.
Bernama cited Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah saying early intelligence pointed to a coordinated network operating not only in Malaysia but across several neighbouring countries. He confirmed that Bukit Aman’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) D3 Division was now leading regional cooperation efforts.
“The D3 Division under the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department is collaborating with Interpol and the ASEAN police. We will track down the syndicate and provide any details obtained... we will monitor the progress,” he told reporters in Alor Setar.
Survivors questioned by investigators said they had been gathered at five separate points between Baitadung and Teknaf, close to the Bangladesh–Myanmar border, before being forced onto a vessel run by the syndicate. According to Adzli, the group’s method involved cramming as many migrants as possible onto one boat before departure.
“The vessel would anchor in a channel between the two countries and would only set sail at full capacity, in this case about 300 people. The journey usually takes around two weeks,” he said.
Victims also told police that payments to the syndicate were made only after the migrants safely reached Malaysia, usually by their family members. Officers also recovered handwritten notes from survivors containing phone numbers believed to belong to syndicate agents.
Adzli confirmed that interrogations of all 14 survivors verified that they were victims of smuggling rather than members of the network. They further claimed that five individuals, believed to be syndicate operatives, were manning the mothership during the voyage.
Upon nearing the Malaysia–Thailand maritime line, the migrants were allegedly offloaded into two smaller boats and made to continue on without the syndicate members.
If you'd like, I can also produce a shorter wire-style version or a radio script. - November 16, 2025
