KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 113 individuals were arrested on suspicion of being involved in human trafficking and forced labour exploitation activities during a nationwide operation on June 12.
The operation, dubbed Operation Mega Pintas, was conducted by Bukit Aman's Criminal Investigation Department D3 Division in collaboration with 14 police contingent headquarters across the country.
Enforcement agencies from the Home Ministry's Council for Anti-Trafficking of Persons, the Health Ministry, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, the Immigration Department and local authorities also took part in the raids.
Bukit Aman's CID deputy director (Intelligence/Operations) Deputy Commissioner Fadil Marsus said 33 simultaneous raids were carried out and they rescued 73 victims of human trafficking, including three with disabilities.
"The focus of the operation was to identify victims of human trafficking among vulnerable groups based on the National Guideline On Human Trafficking Indicators 2.0.
"Among the 113 arrested were syndicate members as well as locals and foreigners from Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and China.
"Those rescued included 25 men, 26 women and 22 children from the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand," he said at a press conference at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman on Thursday.
He said most of the vulnerable groups were tricked into forced labour, posing as beggars, domestic workers, or to work in restaurants, barber shops and factories.
He said investigations were conducted under Sections 12 and 14 of the Trafficking in Persons and Migrant Smuggling Act (ATIPSOM) 2007 and Section 55B, Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act and Immigration Regulations 1963.
"Police welcome cooperation from the community if they have any information about human trafficking.
"Information can be forwarded to the nearest police station," he said.