KUCHING, May 8 – The Sarawak Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle five illegal immigrants (PATI) during a joint operation yesterday at Kampung Biawak, Lundu.
The incident occurred at around 6 a.m. when an immigration enforcement team, monitoring the border area, spotted a suspicious group emerging from the forest and boarding a four-wheel-drive vehicle.
According to a Facebook post by Sarawak Immigration, the vehicle’s local driver attempted to flee upon noticing the authorities.
"However, the enforcement team acted swiftly and managed to intercept and arrest the driver in Batu Kawa," the post said.
"Inspection revealed that the five individuals in the vehicle were Indonesian citizens without any valid travel documents," it added.
Preliminary investigations suggest that each illegal immigrant paid between RM400 and RM500 to a human trafficking syndicate to be smuggled into the vicinity of Kuching.
The syndicate is believed to have used "rat routes" through the forest to evade detection by the authorities.
In addition, the enforcement officers confiscated a vehicle and a mobile phone suspected to have been used in the smuggling operation.
"The case is being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 for transporting illegal immigrants, while the PATIs are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," the statement added.
Sarawak Immigration reiterated its commitment to combating human trafficking activities and ensuring the security of the state's borders.