Crime & Courts

Smugglers use Mercedes-Benz to sneak foreigners into Malaysia

TUMPAT: Authorities have foiled an attempt to smuggle in 15 undocumented migrants from Myanmar in a Mercedes-Benz and a Nissan Grand Livina.

The migrants were found in the vehicles during a raid in Kampung Kok Keli here on Monday night.

General Operations Force Southeast Brigade Commander, Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said they conducted the raid after receiving a tip-off about smuggling activity at a house in the area.

"When we arrived on the scene, two men, believed to be the smugglers ran away, but we managed to catch one of them," he said in a statement.

The raiding team then found 14 men and a woman in the Mercedes-Benz and Grand Livina parked in front of the house.

The migrants did not possess valid documents. The suspected smuggler, a 58-year-old local, was arrested.

The GOF detained the migrants under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for unlawful entry while the suspected smuggler was detained under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act for transporting undocumented migrants.

All of the detained have been brought to the Tumpat district police headquarters for further action.

In a separate case, Nik Ros said two men were arrested after being caught with 3.1kg of methamphetamines worth RM99,200 near a roadblock.

The men, aged 36 and 44, were stopped while repairing their Volkswagen. GOF personnel seized the drugs, car, four mobile phones and RM36,155 in cash.

The suspects also tested positive for drugs.

The case is being investigated under Sections 39B and 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act for trafficking in dangerous drugs and self-administration.

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