08-05-2025
Immigration Dept foils human smuggling attempt in Lundu
Handout photo shows the undocumented immigrants and local man arrested during the operation.
KUCHING (May 8): The Malaysian Immigration Department foiled a human smuggling attempt during a recent operation in Kampung Biawak, Lundu.
The department said on Facebook that the operation carried out by the Enforcement and Border Control Unit detected suspicious movements involving five individuals, believed to be illegal immigrants, emerging from a forested area and boarding a vehicle.
The vehicle's driver, a local man, attempted to flee but was intercepted and apprehended by authorities in Batu Kawa.
'Further inspection revealed that all five Indonesian nationals did not possess valid travel documents.
'Initial investigations indicate the foreigners had each paid between RM400 and RM500 to a smuggling syndicate to be brought into the Kuching area through illegal routes to avoid checkpoints at official entry points,' said the department.
During the operation, Immigration officers also seized a vehicle and a mobile phone believed to have been used in the smuggling attempt.
The local individual acting as transporter is being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007.
'As for the five undocumented immigrants, they are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for failing to produce valid travel documents,' said the department.
The Immigration Department also reaffirmed its commitment to combating human smuggling activities and strengthening border control in Sarawak.
