MALAYSIAN authorities have dismantled an international scam syndicate operating out of an abandoned resort in Sungai Lembing, Kuantan, following a special raid by the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) on Monday.
The syndicate reportedly rented the shuttered resort—which ceased operations in 2025—for RM30,000 per month to serve as a secluded 24-hour call centre, using 11 Starlink satellite internet sets to bypass local telecommunication monitoring.
Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban confirmed during a press conference today that the operation, executed by the Intelligence and Special Operations Division alongside Pahang JIM after a month-long intelligence gathering effort, resulted in the arrest of 98 individuals aged between 20 and 75.
Those detained include 95 foreign nationals—comprising 88 Chinese nationals, two Myanmar nationals, and one individual each from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Russia—as well as three Malaysian citizens, including the resort owner.
"Our investigations reveal this syndicate moves between countries to evade detection by law enforcement," Zakaria stated, noting passport stamps indicated prior operations in Cambodia and Vietnam before setting up base in Pahang three months ago.
"The site's remote location was monitored by lookouts to track movements in and out of the area."
Authorities seized 100 mobile phones, 120 computer sets, a CCTV system, nine unused SIM card packages, RM5,000 in cash, 11 Starlink satellite sets, and multiple foreign travel documents.
The foreign suspects are being investigated for immigration offences including unlawful entry under Section 6(1)(c), overstaying under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, and pass condition breaches under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
The three Malaysians were detained under Section 56(1)(d) for harbouring illegal immigrants.
All detainees have been transferred to the Putrajaya Immigration Office for further investigation. - October 6, 2026
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