Immigration Department foils attempt to traffic eight illegals into Sarawak
KUCHING (April 21): The Immigration Department successfully foiled an attempt to traffic eight illegal immigrants into Sarawak last Saturday.
Its state director Abdul Halim Abang Naili revealed that the eight illegal immigrants were spotted crossing the Selampit River before boarding two vehicles at the scene.
'The operations team then tailed the two vehicles until they stopped at a food court in Bau town, where the team proceeded to raid the vehicles,' he said in a statement.
Abdul Halim added that the team apprehended the eight illegal immigrants, along with two local men who acted as their transporters, and confiscated three mobile phones, RM7,147 in cash, and two vehicles during the raid.
'All of the illegal immigrants were apprehended under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for offenses under Section 6(3) of the Act, as well as under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM),' he added.
Abdul Halim stated that p reliminary investigations revealed that the immigrants did not possess valid travel documents and had entered Sarawak through uncharted routes.
He added that they also learnt illegal agents offered the illegal immigrants transportation to palm oil plantations in Tatau and Sarikei for a fee of RM2,300 per person.
Abdul Halim noted that this incident highlighted the existence of an illegal network of transporters smuggling illegal immigrants into the region.
'This is part of a planned human trafficking (operation) by irresponsible individuals attempting to evade checkpoints when entering Malaysia.' illegal immigrant Immigration Department lead traffic
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