PUTRAJAYA – Non-citizens who exited and re-entered Malaysia when their social visit pass expired, known as U-turns, was what raised suspicions leading to the discovery of a fraudulent online investment syndicate orchestrated by a Briton in this country.
Immigration Director-General Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said that as a result of covert intelligence by a department task force in liaison with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), they busted the syndicate with the arrest of 33 individuals – including a British national believed to be the mastermind.
They were arrested in raids carried out by a team of officers from the Immigration Intelligence and Special Operations Division and MACC officers at 24 premises and three call centres in the Klang Valley and Penang in the operation dubbed “Op Tropicana” on Tuesday.
Khairul Dzaimee said Immigration detained 23 out of the total of 30 non-citizens – involving 10 from Indonesia, seven from Britain, and one each from Denmark, Canada, Hungary, Sweden, the Philippines, and India – for investigation under the Immigration Act 1956/63 and Passport Act 1966.
According to him, the other 10 individuals, including three local citizens, and the mastermind of the case were detained by the MACC for further investigation.
At a press conference with MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki regarding the success of Op Tropicana in dismantling the fraud syndicate here today, Khairul Dzaimee said the U-turns of the syndicate members were first detected in November last year.
“Syndicate members were observed to stay in the country up to the maximum period of (the granting of the social visa pass), then make U-turns frequently, arousing suspicion among Immigration officials at the entry gate, especially at Kuala Lumpur International Airport,” he said.
He said the task force began monitoring the members of the syndicate when they were not included in the list of regular visitors who frequently do U-turns as they hail from neighbouring countries.
Khairul Dzaimee said the review found that these non-citizens had expertise in investment, social media, and information technology, while the local culprits were responsible for providing premises and security services to the syndicate.
“Observation and intensive gathering of information went on for three months. The team had to be cautious because the operation premises of this syndicate were controlled with CCTV and also electric fences,” he said.
Meanwhile, Azam did not rule out the role of local enforcement agencies that shielded the syndicate.
“We believe there were enforcement agencies bribed based on evidence, and do not rule out the possibility that these authorities were involved in protecting their activities,” he said.
According to him, cooperation with the UK National Crime Agency also revealed that the detained foreigners had criminal records related to fraud and are listed as wanted persons.
Media reports said the syndicate is believed to have targeted Australian and British citizens by tricking them into making non-existent investments – managing to profit as much as RM200 million – and is believed to have been operating in this country since 2019. – Bernama, February 23, 2023
