Johor immigration cripple human trafficking syndicate

THE JOHOR Immigration Department has crippled an international human trafficking syndicate headed by a Myanmar agent, reported the New Straits Times.

The syndicate used "rat lanes" (lorong tikus), or ungazetted routes, by sea to smuggle in Myanmar nationals.

"The syndicate is also believed to be producing fake Arakan Refugee Relief Committee cards with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees stamp.

"This card purportedly allows the cardholder to remain in Malaysia legally and was sold for RM5,000 to foreigners," said Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus 

He said the syndicate's main target was the Arakan ethnic minority, with victims charged RM3,000 each to enter the country.

For an additional RM100, they would be transported by land to a transit house located in an oil palm plantation in Mersing.

Rusdi said the department's enforcement officers mounted a four-hour-long surveillance on the workers' quarters in the oil palm plantation in Mersing before storming in at 2.20am today.

"Five undocumented Indonesian men aged between 21 and 49 attempted to flee, with some hiding under beds, but they were rounded up and detained by the 26 immigration enforcement officers deployed to the scene.

"The Indonesians are believed to be part of the syndicate's members who watched over the Myanmar nationals housed there," he said, adding that today's operation was a follow-up to one on Thursday in Kluang.

Acting on a two-day surveillance mounted on a double-storey shop-house in Kluang, he said the enforcement officers stormed the premises where eight Myanmar nationals were being kept.

They detained four men and a woman aged between 26 and 47, all of whom are believed to be members of the same syndicate, including the agent who acted as their leader.

There were also three Arakan ethnic men aged between 35 and 49, who had been smuggled into the country some 14 days earlier.

"The Myanmar nationals claimed that they had been locked in the unit since their arrival, and were not allowed to leave the premises, until their future employers arrived," said Rusdi.

According to the New Straits Times, the syndicate's agent had legal documents to remain in the country and is believed to have been behind the illicit operations for at least six years.

Rusdi added that the raiding party found two Myanmar passports, 12 Arakan Refugee Relief Committee cards which are believed to be fake, printed UNHCR letterhead forms, and RM15,855.

Investigations are underway to determine the Arakan refugee card authenticity, while the undocumented foreigners were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for remaining in the country without valid permits and documents.

The syndicate agent was detained under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act. - The Vibes, July 1, 2024