JOHOR BARU: More than two years have passed since the country was rocked by one of the worst human trafficking tragedies in the country in recent years.
In December 2021, reports emerged that a boat ferrying over 60 people capsized off the coast of Teluk Balau in Kota Tinggi, Johor.
A total of 21 Indonesians on board the vessel lost their lives.
A year later, the mastermind behind the human trafficking syndicate, known as Acing@Susanto, was detained by Indonesian authorities with information provided by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
Acing, who was assisted by a henchman named Bursa, was also behind two other ill-fated attempts in 2022 to smuggle Indonesians into the country.
These included the capsizing incidents off Teluk Ramunia and Pontian, in which a total of 14 people drowned.
Despite Acing's arrest, trafficking activities still persist, carried on by those who once reported to him.
Johor MMEA director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said remnants of Acing's group were still operating.
"We are aware of splinter groups operating in the waters off east Johor, using this area as their main route.
"They are small timers now, but they could become bigger like the original syndicate," he said, adding that there was an uptick of illegal migrants travelling during the festive season.
One such splinter group recently released an "advertisement" on TikTok, offering undocumented Indonesians in Malaysia a "safe passage" home ahead of Hari Raya Aidiladha.