Latest news with #FederalCriminalInvestigationDepartmentAnti-TraffickinginPersonsandAnti-SmugglingofMigrantsDivision
New Straits Times
23-07-2025
- New Straits Times
Police rescue two human trafficking victims in Setapak raid
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have rescued two Indian women believed to be victims of human trafficking and forced labour. Federal Criminal Investigation Department Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Division (D3) principal assistant director, Senior Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong, said officers raided a residence in Setapak, Wangsa Maju, about 9pm last night. "The raid was conducted following intelligence gathered. "The operation focused on identifying vulnerable victims of human trafficking, guided by the National Guideline on Human Trafficking Indicators (NGHTI)," he said in a statement today. He said one Indian man was arrested and two human trafficking victims were rescued during the raid. "Our checks revealed the victims, who hailed from India, were deceived and exploited through forced labour at the residence. "Both victims are aged 20 and 22, while the suspect is a 30-year-old man, also from India," he said, adding that the two women were rescued under Section 44(1) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act. He said the suspect was arrested under Section 13 of the same act. "Further checks revealed the suspect acted as both employer and agent for the victims. "Both victims had been promised employment as tailors with a monthly salary of RM2,000," he said, adding that they did not receive any payment up until the time of their rescue. He said upon refusing to continue working due to non-payment, the suspect allegedly resorted to physical violence against them. "He is alleged to have hit them with a fan. "Both victims suffered injuries to their knees and chin," he said, adding that the victims had been "employed" by the suspect since December last year. Soffian urged the public with information on similar cases to contact the police immediately or go to the nearest police station.
New Straits Times
16-07-2025
- New Straits Times
12 held in Setapak over migrant smuggling
KUALA LUMPUR: Police foiled an attempt to smuggle migrants out of Malaysia following a raid on an apartment in Setapak yesterday. Federal Criminal Investigation Department Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Division principal assistant director Senior Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong said the 9pm operation uncovered an attempt to smuggle migrants to Indonesia via unapproved routes. "The raid resulted in the arrest of 12 people for various offences. "Four were detained under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, comprising three Indonesian men, aged 29 to 31, and an Indonesian woman, 22. They acted as agents, caretakers of the safehouse and transporters." He said five suspects were held under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not having valid documents, comprising two Indonesian women, aged 23 and 43, an Indonesian man, 47, and two Bangladeshi men, aged 27 and 41. "Three were arrested under Section 15(1)(c) of the same act, comprising an Indonesian man and two Bangladeshi men, all aged 29 to 41." Soffian said the apartment was used as a safehouse for migrants, with agents charging RM1,000 to RM1,700 for their services. "The group advertised its services on social media and used the premises as a transit point for migrants entering or leaving Malaysia through unapproved routes. "Transporters take them from the safehouse to the coastal area." The case is being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, as well as Sections 6(1)(c) and 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
