GOF cripples human trafficking syndicate, nabs 37 undocumented migrants and 2 tekong in Kelantan
KOTA BARU: A total of 37 undocumented migrants and two suspected tekong (those who harbour illegal immigrants) were arrested during separate operations by the General Operations Force (GOF) in Ketereh and Pengkalan Kubor yesterday.
GOF Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the operations under Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan were carried out by the GOF Eighth Battalion following intelligence on human smuggling activities.
He said the first raid was conducted at 11.30am at a house in Lorong Dato Kadok, Jalan Syed Kuning near Ketereh.
"During the raid, two local men were found sitting in a car parked in front of the house.
"Upon further inspection, the GOF then found 11 Bangladeshi men, 19 Myanmar men and five Myanmar women hiding inside the premises," he said.
Ros Azhan said initial checks showed that all the Bangladeshi nationals and one Myanmar man did not have valid entry stamps in their passports, while the remaining individuals possessed no identification documents.
"All are believed to have been smuggled into Malaysia via illegal routes.
"The two local suspects, aged 31 and 57, are believed to be the tekong responsible for bringing the undocumented migrants into the country," Nik Ros Azhan said, adding that one of them tested positive for methamphetamine.
The undocumented migrants are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while the tekong are being held under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM).
He said all were taken to the Kota Baru district police headquarters for further action.
In a separate case at 1.30pm the same day, he said a team manning a roadblock at Jalan Neting, Pengkalan Kubor, detained a suspicious lorry during routine checks.
"Inside the vehicle, a 23-year-old Indian man was driving with a Nepali passenger whose passport had expired.
"The driver is being investigated under Section 55E of the Immigration Act, while the Nepali man is held under Section 15(1) of the same Act," said Nik Ros Azhan.
Both individuals were handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Tumpat district police station.
Nik Ros Azhan stressed that GOF would continue to strengthen border security and enforcement operations to combat the influx of undocumented migrants and the smuggling syndicates operating along Malaysia's borders.
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