KUALA LUMPUR: Police foiled seven trafficking in person (TIP) syndicates which have been smuggling people into the country.
In a statement , Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police, in a close cooperation with the Royal Thai Police had arrested 38 individuals between March and April this year. Among those arrested were agents, syndicate leaders, transporters and two policemen. “The close cooperation and partnership between our police and the Royal Thai Police to manage and monitor security issues at the common borders have been fruitful. The individuals detained comprised 21 Myanmar citizens, 16 Malaysians and an Indonesian. “They are being detained under Section 26(A) of the Anti-Trafficking in Person and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007,” he said. He added that the syndicates operated in the northern areas of Malaysia and south Thailand, and their victims were predominantly Myanmar nationals and Bangladeshis. These syndicates were also believed to be involved in the falsification of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) documents, he added. Between the late hours of May 10 and early morning of May 11, the police had arrested 1,018 illegal migrants on the shores of Langkawi, comprising 555 Bangladeshis and 463 Myanmar citizens. Two vessels used by them had also been confiscated for further investigation and onward action.
