Undocumented Indonesian migrants land in trouble after paying agent RM3,000 to return to homeland

SABAK BERNAM - In an attempt to return to their homeland by using the services of the “Geng Indah” syndicate with a fee of RM3,000, 15 undocumented immigrants landed in trouble after they were arrested in the district on Thursday.

They were arrested in an operation dubbed Op Pintas carried out by the Bukit Aman Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Division of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) together with the Sabak Bernam district police headquarters Criminal Investigation Division.

In the operation which was carried out at 8pm, police managed to arrest the 15 individuals including six Indonesians.

According a source, the six undocumented immigrants from Indonesia aged between 23 and 50 comprised four men and two women.

"The other nine are suspects acted as agents, skippers and transporters.

"The suspects involved two local men and seven Indonesians including a woman who are all between 25 and 40 years old," the source said.

The source added that all the suspects paid between RM1,700 and RM3,000 to be smuggled out through sea from Malaysia to Indonesia by the “Geng Indah” syndicate.

Meanwhile, Chief Assistant Director of D3 CID Bukit Aman, Senior Assistant Commissioner Fadil Marsus confirmed the arrest.

“We will continue with Op Pintas. This case is being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," he said when contacted.