TEBEDU, June 12: The Immigration Department Sarawak dismantled an active migrant smuggling syndicate operating at the land access point along the Sarawak–Indonesia border in Tebedu, Serian.
According to a news report by TVS, the department’s Security Monitoring and Enforcement Unit (UPKP) conducted two raids under Ops Serkap and Ops Kutip yesterday, beginning as early as 4am.
During the operations, authorities detained 11 Indonesian nationals (eight men and three women) who were believed to be in the process of being smuggled out of Malaysia without valid travel documents.
“The syndicate involved is believed to have used the area as an illegal transit centre before leaving Malaysia,” the department was cited as saying in a statement last night.
Acting swiftly on intelligence, the enforcement team launched a raid on a premises used as a transit headquarters by the syndicate upon the suspect’s arrival at the location.
Also seized was a vehicle estimated to be worth RM30,000 believed to have been used for the smuggling activities.
All detainees are now being held at the Immigration Depot for further investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Immigration Regulations 1963 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM).
“This operation is part of the ongoing efforts of the Malaysian Immigration Department, Sarawak in strengthening and combating crime at the country’s borders,” the statement said.
According to a news report by TVS, the department’s Security Monitoring and Enforcement Unit (UPKP) conducted two raids under Ops Serkap and Ops Kutip yesterday, beginning as early as 4am.
During the operations, authorities detained 11 Indonesian nationals (eight men and three women) who were believed to be in the process of being smuggled out of Malaysia without valid travel documents.
“The syndicate involved is believed to have used the area as an illegal transit centre before leaving Malaysia,” the department was cited as saying in a statement last night.
Acting swiftly on intelligence, the enforcement team launched a raid on a premises used as a transit headquarters by the syndicate upon the suspect’s arrival at the location.
Also seized was a vehicle estimated to be worth RM30,000 believed to have been used for the smuggling activities.
All detainees are now being held at the Immigration Depot for further investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Immigration Regulations 1963 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM).
“This operation is part of the ongoing efforts of the Malaysian Immigration Department, Sarawak in strengthening and combating crime at the country’s borders,” the statement said.