KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department busted a human trafficking syndicate led by three Bangladeshi men, during a special operation at three locations in Cheras on Wednesday.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said authorities arrested three primary suspects, aged 35 to 38, along with a 32-year-old Bangladeshi woman, believed to be the partner of one of the suspects, during the operation at 9.11pm.
He added that the authorities rescued 11 Bangladeshi men, aged between 30 and 38, who were believed to be victims of exploitation and trafficking for profit.
"We confiscated 17 Bangladeshi passports, 20 mobile phones, RM800 in cash, US$800, and two vehicles," he said in a statement today.
He explained that the syndicate's modus operandi involved bringing Bangladeshi nationals, intending to work in Malaysia, into the country as tourists through air entry points.
With a fee of RM15,000, the Bangladeshis would be brought into the country and placed in transit houses.
Victims were required to pay an additional RM5,000 if they wanted to leave the house.