Interpol crackdown on illicit pharmaceuticals worth US$1.5m in Malaysia
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New Paper
9 hours ago
- New Paper
Singaporean drivers beware: VEP fines have started
Nine months after the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) was first implemented, Malaysian authorities have begun enforcement operations on Singapore-registered vehicles without an activated VEP tag. Once the clock struck midnight on Tuesday morning (July 1), Singapore-registered vehicles that fell afoul of the rule were pulled aside by Malaysian traffic police at the two land checkpoints and fined RM300 ($90.50). Malaysian law makes it an offence for anyone to drive a foreign-registered vehicle without a permit when entering or being present in the country. Before Tuesday, vehicles without the VEP tag were let off with a warning. According to one Facebook user, police were seen setting up a roadblock on the Malaysian side of the Second Link from as early as 9pm. CNA also reported 15 vehicles stopped within 15 minutes of the start of enforcement after midnight on the Malaysian side of the Causeway. Pop-up counters were set up for offenders to pay their fines immediately. Grace period over Malaysia's Transport Minister Anthony Loke said on June 4 that the VEP system is vital for cross-border traffic control, as well as for enforcing traffic laws on foreign-registered vehicles. Drivers of Singapore-registered vehicles entering Malaysia are required to register online and pay a RM10 fee for the VEP Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag, which is valid for five years. Each vehicle is subsequently charged RM20 per entry into Malaysia. Failure to comply may result in the vehicle being prevented from leaving Malaysia until the RM300 fine is paid. Company-owned vehicles with pre-registered VEP tags that have not been activated will be allowed to exit Malaysia with a reminder. This concession is in place because users have faced issues when registering the VEP e-wallet under a company name. Fines can be paid only via cashless methods at Road Transport Department (JPJ) counters, mobile JPJ trucks, or online platforms, such as MyEG. Malaysian news agency Bernama reported that as late as Monday, many Singapore-registered vehicle owners were still rushing to complete their VEP registration at a mall in Skudai, Johor which serves as a registration centre. The Straits Times also reported that waves of Singapore motorists showed up at VEP application and installation centres in Singapore and Johor Bahru after Mr Loke's comments on June 4. When The New Paper drove into Johor via the Second Link just before 9am, there were no roadblocks or enforcement officers observed on the Malaysian side in either direction. The same was noted during the return trip to Singapore an hour later.
Straits Times
21 hours ago
- Straits Times
AI-driven human trafficking scams from South-east Asia spreading globally: Interpol
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Interpol stated that victims from at least 66 countries have fallen prey to human trafficking and forced labour in online scam centres. Online scam centres driven by human trafficking have become a global threat in the digital age. The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) has revealed a recent crime trend, stating that ' human trafficking-fueled scam centres ' have rapidly expanded their networks from South-east Asia to new areas in West Africa, the Middle East, Central America, and worldwide in recent years. In its March 2025 report, Interpol stated that victims from at least 66 countries have fallen prey to human trafficking and forced labour in online scam centres. Seventy-four per cent of victims were taken to the traditional 'hub' areas in South-east Asia, while scam centres in other countries are emerging, with West Africa potentially becoming the new hotspot for this type of crime. Many human trafficking victims are lured through fake job advertisements, then detained in compounds and forced to engage in online fraud, including investment scams, money transfers, romance fraud, and online gambling. Those who resist are often threatened, and some face brutal abuse or even torture. While not all workers in scam centres are human trafficking victims, those coerced into committing crimes are often intimidated with debt, forced to work endlessly, and some endure severe psychological distress. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore and Cambodia to expand collaboration in renewable energy, carbon markets and agri-trade Asia US, India push for trade pact after Trump strikes deal with Vietnam: Sources Business Microsoft cutting 9,000 jobs companywide in second major wave of layoffs this year Opinion How Apple gave 'the gift of fire' to Chinese electronics firms Asia Malaysian nurses following the money abroad for more opportunities Life Sean 'Diddy' Combs to remain jailed ahead of sentencing, judge rules Singapore Granddaughter of Hin Leong founder O.K. Lim fails to keep 3 insurance policies from creditors' reach World Iran's nuclear programme degraded by up to two years, Pentagon says Another form of victimisation involves those deceived online in other parts of the world, who lose large sums of money and, in some cases, their financial stability. Interpol describes these online scam centres as a 'double-edged threat', impacting both those forced to commit fraud and victims deceived through screens from other countries. The trend has intensified since 2023, prompting the issuance of an urgent Orange Notice to warn of the serious and escalating threat. International operations coordinated by Interpol with police forces from various countries have uncovered multiple cases of human trafficking for forced criminal activities. For example, in 2024, authorities raided a large scam centre in the Philippines, and in Namibia, a centre was dismantled where 88 young people were forced to engage in fraud. Police seized 163 computers and 350 mobile phones for investigation. In addition to forced labour and systematic deception, Interpol has also warned that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a new tool for criminals. AI is being used to craft highly convincing fake job advertisements and create deceptive profiles and images through Deepfake technology to lure victims into various scams, such as romance scams or sextortion. These criminal networks also use the same trafficking routes to smuggle drugs, weapons, and protected wildlife, such as tigers and pangolins. This means that 'scam centres' are no longer just hubs for cybercrime, but are increasingly becoming epicentres for a variety of transnational crimes. Interpol's data also highlights the profile of 'human trafficking facilitators', key drivers behind this crime. Over 80 per cent are male, and 61 per cent are aged between 20 and 39 years. Meanwhile, 90 per cent are of Asian descent, with 11 per cent from Africa or South America, reflecting the complexity of global criminal networks. Mr Cyril Gout, acting Director of Police Services at Interpol, emphasised that addressing this threat requires genuine international cooperation. This includes intelligence sharing between countries, building partnerships with NGOs that assist victims, and collaborating with technology companies whose platforms are exploited for scams. Interpol continues to push for strict legal action, conducting joint operations with countries worldwide. These efforts have helped rescue many human trafficking victims, arrest perpetrators, and seize criminal assets. Through mechanisms like I-grip which halts illegal money transfers, hundreds of millions of dollars have been blocked. In an era where cybercrime evolves as quickly as the technology used for deception, surveillance, and global collaboration, have become essential in combating online scam centres, which are increasingly tied to new forms of human trafficking. THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
CNA
3 days ago
- CNA
Malaysia steps up VEP scheme enforcement from Jul 1
Scroll up for the next video X Malaysia steps up VEP scheme enforcement from Jul 1
