PUTRAJAYA: The Immigration Department (JIM) has successfully dismantled a human trafficking syndicate with the arrest of a Bangladeshi man in his 30s during a special operation at Klang Sentral, Selangor, yesterday (Nov 3).
At 3.54pm, a team from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division conducted the operation, which also led to the rescue of six Bangladeshi men.
In a statement today, JIM said the raid was conducted following a two week surveillance.
"During the operation at the shop lot, we detained a 30-year-old Bangladeshi man believed to be the 'caretaker' of the syndicate. Checks revealed that he was in the country illegally, lacking valid travel documents," it said.
The caretaker attempted to escape through a window but was caught after a brief struggle.
"Officers also seized seven Bangladeshi passports and seven mobile phones. Preliminary investigations indicated that the syndicate's modus operandi involved bringing Bangladeshi nationals to Malaysia under the guise of tourism, handling all arrangements for passports, visas, and flights.
"The victims were housed in 'transit homes' and charged RM15,000 each for their passage, with an additional RM5,000 required for each individual to leave the transit home," it said.
The caretaker has been charged under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670) and is currently held at the Shah Alam lockup.
The six rescued individuals have been sent to a shelter in Tanjung Kling, Melaka, for further assistance.
"The department remains committed to taking stringent action against anyone found violating the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966, the Immigration Regulations 1963, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM)," read the statement.