MARINE Police Force (PPM) recorded seizures worth RM419.5 million and arrested 1,254 individuals in the first half of the year, with migrant smuggling emerging as the most prevalent offence.
According to PPM Bukit Aman Commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner Shamsol Kassim, the figures cover the period from January to 15 July and span 5,293 recorded cases.
Of those arrested, 650 were Malaysian nationals while 604 were foreigners.
“A wide range of offences was recorded, including under the Customs Act 1968, the Control of Supplies Act 1961, the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007, the Wildlife Conservation Act 2011, the Fisheries Act 1985, and the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” Shamsol said.
“Out of all the cases, smuggling of migrants or undocumented immigrants (PATI) accounted for more than 40 per cent,” he told Sinar Harian on Thursday.
Under the Fisheries Act 1985, offences included employing foreign crew without valid permits. Meanwhile, arrests of cross-border smuggling syndicates primarily involved Indonesian nationals using small fibreglass boats, often operating under cover of night.
“Syndicates are also adopting various tactics to evade detection,” Shamsol noted. “These include impersonating local fishermen, using isolated coastal routes and narrow rivers to avoid patrolled channels, transferring goods and people at sea, and leveraging communication apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram, as well as advertising on social media platforms like TikTok.”
He issued a stern warning to those involved in cross-border criminal activities, particularly human and drug smuggling.
“PPM urges maritime communities and coastal residents not to collude with such syndicates and to report any suspicious activities immediately. Public cooperation is crucial in safeguarding the nation’s maritime security and sovereignty,” he added. - July 17, 2025
