Police have crippled a migrant smuggling syndicate following the arrest of 11 people, including three Malaysians.
The arrests were made at the Padang Besar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex and two other locations in the Klang Valley.
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Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Bador said the syndicate, which had been active since mid-2018, was using Malaysia as a transit country before sending Sri Lankans nationals to Europe.
“The arrests were made when the syndicate members tried to smuggle a Sri Lankan boy to Thailand via the Padang Besar entrance using a Malaysian travel document. The syndicate had planned to send the boy to Europe illegally.
“Among those arrested were three Malaysians – two facilitators and one escort – and eight Sri Lankan migrants,” he said in a statement today.
Abdul Hamid said the three Malaysians were believed to be involved in smuggling the Sri Lankan migrants out of the country via the Malaysia-Thailand border by using Malaysian travel documents.
“Investigations revealed that they also give protection and kept the Sri Lankan migrants in the capital city before sending them to a third country.
“All three Malaysians are being investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 while the eight Sri Lankans were detained under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
“With the arrest, police have crippled a migrant smuggling syndicate ring with networks in Malaysia, Europe and Sri Lanka,” he said.
