EXCLUSIVE: 6,054 illegal immigrants detained by cops since 2020

KUALA LUMPUR - Police has successfully curbed human trafficking syndicates that has been smuggling illegal immigrants via Malaysia sea routes.

A total of 6,054 migrants have been detained through a series of raids since 2020.

Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIGP) Datuk Razarudin Husain said breakdown of arrests from 2020 until March last year consist of 4,733 foreign migrants and 1,321 human trafficking agents.

"In 2020, a total of 827 human trafficking agents and 1,912 immigrants were arrested while the following year the police arrested 363 human trafficking agents and 1,907 migrants.

"As of March this year, the police managed to thwart the syndicate's attempts, arresting 131 human trafficking agents and 914 immigrants," he told Sinar yesterday.

Razarudin said they have been charged under the Anti-Trafficking of Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007, Section 130V of the Organised Crime of the Penal Code and the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Based on information and intelligence reports, he said the team believed that these syndicate has an external and internal network where syndicate agents manage the entry and exit of the immigrants.

He said police also identified several modus operandi of the illegal immigrants syndicate which includes using fishing boats.

"Illegal immigrants who try to smuggle into the country will be brought in by the human trafficking agents and will be in the country's water borders for several days so they could monitor the movement of the authorities.

"Then, the fishing boats and illegal immigrants will be divided into small numbers and will work as fishermen first before arriving on Malaysian shores.

"That is one of the syndicate's tactics we have identified. We will continue to improve intelligence reports and patrols to combat this criminal activity," he added.

Razarudin stressed that all boat owners or any individuals conspiring with syndicates not to be involved in such crimes.