Latest news with #NationalGuidelineonHumanTraffickingIndicators
The Star
09-05-2025
- The Star
85 human trafficking victims rescued
Exploited labour: Some of the human trafficking victims rescued in Ops Pintas Mega. KUALA LUMPUR: Eighty-five individuals, including 17 children, believed to be victims of human trafficking and forced labour, were rescued following a massive operation. Some 175 others were detained in the special operation called Ops Pintas Mega, which was conducted by Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) division (D3) along with other enforcement agencies. The operation saw 36 raids conducted simultaneously nationwide on May 8. Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said those rescued were 58 men, 10 women, 16 boys and a girl. 'Some were locals while others were from the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar. Most of the victims were rescued from being victims of human trafficking for exploitation and forced labour,' he said when contacted yesterday. The raiding teams also detained 175 individuals, consisting of locals and foreigners during the special operation. 'The foreigners were from Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Myanmar, Nepal and China,' he said. 'The focus of the operation is to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking in the services and plantation sectors, as well as children exploited by begging syndicates. 'Our operation is based on the National Guideline on Human Trafficking Indicators (NGHTI) 2.0. We also aim to curb trafficking in persons in a holistic manner,' said Comm Mohd Shuhaily. The investigations are being conducted under Sections 12 and 14 of the Atipsom Act 2007, Section 55B and Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963. 'Human trafficking is a very serious offence, and we will take stern action against any individual or criminal syndicate that is involved in such activities. 'We also urge the public to relay information on human trafficking offences to the nearest police station,' he said. The raids were jointly conducted with the Home Ministry, Immigration Department, Labour Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the National Anti-Trafficking Council.
The Star
09-05-2025
- The Star
Seventeen children among 85 rescued in nationwide anti-human trafficking operation
KUALA LUMPUR: Eighty-five individuals, including seventeen children, believed to be victims of human trafficking and forced labour, have been rescued in a massive nationwide operation. The operation, codenamed "Ops Pintas Mega", conducted by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) anti-trafficking in persons and anti-smuggling of migrants division (D3) along with other enforcement agencies, saw 36 raids conducted simultaneously nationwide on Thursday (May 8). Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said victims rescued comprised 58 men, 10 women, 16 boys and a girl. "Some were locals while others were from the Philippines, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar. "Most were victims of human trafficking for the purpose of exploitation and forced labour," he said on Friday (May 9). Also detained during the special operation were 175 suspects consisting of locals and foreigners. "The foreigners were from Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Myanmar, Nepal and China," he said. Comm Mohd Shuhaily said the operation aimed to identify and rescue victims of human trafficking in the services and plantation sectors as well as children exploited by begging syndicates. "Our operation is based on the National Guideline on Human Trafficking Indicators (NGHTI) 2.0," he added. Investigations are being conducted under Section 12 and 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007; Section 55B and Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, he said. Other government agencies involved in the operation were the Immigration Department, Environment Department, Labour Department and local authorities.
Malay Mail
04-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Immigration rescues 10 underage foreign girls from suspected sex trafficking ring in Johor
KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — The Malaysian Immigration Department rescued 10 underage foreign girls believed to be victims of sexual exploitation during a raid on a spa and massage centre in Johor Baru yesterday. Director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said preliminary investigations, guided by the National Guideline on Human Trafficking Indicators, found that the victims, six from Vietnam and four from Indonesia, were deceived with false job offers, denied wages, had their movements restricted and their passports withheld. All 10 victims have been placed in a shelter while investigations are carried out under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007 [Act 670]. Checks on the premises led to the arrest of 37 Vietnamese women and 16 Indonesian women, aged between 18 and 40, on suspicion of prostitution. 'Initial findings revealed that prostitution services were offered to select clients through WeChat and WhatsApp, with rates from RM200 to RM300 per hour,' Zakaria said in a statement yesterday. He added that 11 men from Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, working as cleaners, were also arrested, along with seven local men suspected of being the owners of the premises and 'captains' or handlers of the foreign women. A total of RM128,464 in cash, believed to be proceeds from the illicit activities, was also seized. 'At the time of the 3.15pm raid, several women were found attending to customers, including locals and foreign tourists, while others were hiding in a concealed room to evade detection,' he said. Zakaria added that the detained foreign nationals were taken to Immigration detention centres for further investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966, and Immigration Regulations 1963. Meanwhile, the local suspects identified as 'captains' are being investigated under Section 12 of the Atipsom Act 2007, Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966, and Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63. The operation was carried out following public complaints and intelligence gathered by the Atipsom and Anti-Money Laundering Prevention Unit of the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya. It involved 58 officers from the Enforcement Division, Intelligence and Special Operations Division, as well as officers from Negeri Sembilan and Johor. — Bernama
The Sun
03-05-2025
- The Sun
10 underage girls rescued in Johor anti-trafficking raid
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Immigration Department rescued 10 underage foreign girls believed to be victims of sexual exploitation during a raid on a spa and massage centre in Johor Bahru yesterday. Director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said preliminary investigations, guided by the National Guideline on Human Trafficking Indicators, found that the victims, six from Vietnam and four from Indonesia, were deceived with false job offers, denied wages, had their movements restricted and their passports withheld. All 10 victims have been placed in a shelter while investigations are carried out under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007 [Act 670]. Checks on the premises led to the arrest of 37 Vietnamese women and 16 Indonesian women, aged between 18 and 40, on suspicion of prostitution. 'Initial findings revealed that prostitution services were offered to select clients through WeChat and WhatsApp, with rates from RM200 to RM300 per hour,' Zakaria said in a statement today. He added that 11 men from Indonesia, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, working as cleaners, were also arrested, along with seven local men suspected of being the owners of the premises and 'captains' or handlers of the foreign women. A total of RM128,464 in cash, believed to be proceeds from the illicit activities, was also seized. 'At the time of the 3.15 pm raid, several women were found attending to customers, including locals and foreign tourists, while others were hiding in a concealed room to evade detection,' he said. Zakaria added that the detained foreign nationals were taken to Immigration detention centres for further investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966, and Immigration Regulations 1963. Meanwhile, the local suspects identified as 'captains' are being investigated under Section 12 of the ATIPSOM Act 2007, Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966, and Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63. The operation was carried out following public complaints and intelligence gathered by the ATIPSOM and Anti-Money Laundering Prevention Unit of the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya. It involved 58 officers from the Enforcement Division, Intelligence and Special Operations Division, as well as officers from Negeri Sembilan and Johor.
Malay Mail
03-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Just RM300 an hour: Immigration officers rescue 10 girls from sex traffickers in JB, over 50 other women from Vietnam, Indonesia also found
JOHOR BARU, May 3 — Ten underage foreign girls were rescued from a sex trafficking syndicate operating behind a spa and massage parlour front here during an Immigration Department raid yesterday. Director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation was launched following public complaints and intelligence gathered by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Money Laundering (Atipsom and Amla) Division in Putrajaya. 'As many as 71 individuals were detained including seven local men believed to be 'captains', and 10 underage women rescued,' he said in a statement posted on the department's official Facebook account. He added that more than RM128,000 in cash was seized during the raid. A scrawl space behind a spa and massage parlour in Johor Baru led Immigration officers to women and children offered by a sex trafficking ring to local and foreign customers. — Picture from Facebook/Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia Separately, the New Straits Times reporting on the incident disclosed that the 10 underaged girls were six Vietnamese and four Indonesians, based on the National Guideline on Human Trafficking Indicators. Their ages were not disclosed. 'These victims were allegedly misled with false job offers, denied wages, had their passports withheld, and were coerced into providing sex services,' Zakaria was also quoted telling a news conference. According to the New Straits Times, 53 other women from Vietnam and Indonesia, between the ages of 18 and 40 were also found at the hidden premises, and suspected to be involved in the prostitution ring. 'Some of the women were found entertaining local and foreign clients during the raid, while others were discovered hiding in a concealed room built into the premises, believed to have been used to evade detection,' Zakaria was quoted as saying. A spa and massage parlour in Johor Baru hid a sex trafficking business offering underaged girls to local and foreign men. — Picture from Facebook/Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia He added that the sex trafficking ring would promote its services to select customers through WeChat and WhatsApp, charging between RM200 and RM300 per hour.
