Latest news with #Soffian
The Star
09-05-2025
- The Star
Police rescue 16 victims of forced labour in Klang Valley
KUALA LUMPUR: Police have rescued 16 people, including teenagers, believed to be victims of forced labour in a series of raids in the the Klang Valley, conducted by Bukit Aman's anti-trafficking in persons and anti-smuggling of migrants unit under Ops Pintas Mega. Bukit Aman D3 chief SAC Soffian Santong said five teenage boys – four from Myanmar and one from Indonesia aged 16 to 17 – were rescued in the first raid just after midnight on Thursday (May 8) at a restaurant in Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang. Two men – a 29-year-old Malaysian employer and a 26-year-old Indian national supervisor –were arrested and both are being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. Police also detained 20 other foreign workers from India, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Indonesia, for suspected immigration offences. Eight men – a local and seven Bangladeshis aged from 35 and 51 – were rescued in the second raid at 11.30am at a construction site in Pantai Dalam, Kuala Lumpur. Soffian said two Bangladeshi men acting as supervisors were arrested and 17 others were detained under the Immigration Act. "Later in the day, police raided two car workshops in Puchong Utama and rescued three teenage boys aged 14 to 17, including one from Myanmar, " he added. Two local men believed to be the workshop owners were arrested and two Myanmar nationals working there were detained for immigration offences. All rescued victims were taken to police stations in Gombak, Brickfields and Subang Jaya. The joint operation also involved the Home Ministry, Immigration Department, Labour Department, Maritime Enforcement Agency and the National Anti-Trafficking Council. – Bernama
New Straits Times
09-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Police rescue 16 foreigners, including 7 children, from forced labour in Klang Valley
KUALA LUMPUR: Police rescued 16 foreign nationals, including seven children, who were being exploited as forced labour in a series of operations conducted yesterday. The raids, part of Op Pintas Mega, were led by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Division (D3) of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and took place at four locations across Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Authorities also arrested 45 foreign nationals for various immigration offences. Bukit Aman D3 principal assistant director, Senior Assistant Commissioner Soffian Santong said the first raid took place at a restaurant in Bandar Tasik Puteri, Rawang, at 12.05am. "Five boys, four from Myanmar and one from Indonesia, aged between 16 and 17, were rescued under Section 44 of the ATIPSOM Act," he said. "Following this, we arrested two men, one local and one Indian national, who acted as the employer and supervisor of the boys." "In the same raid, 20 individuals aged between 22 and 45 were detained, including 10 Myanmar nationals, four Indians, two Bangladeshis, and two Indonesians," he added in a statement today. Soffian said the second raid was conducted at a construction site in Pantai Dalam, where eight men who were being exploited were rescued. "Nine individuals, including a local supervisor aged between 35 and 51, were detained." The third operation took place at a car workshop in Puchong Utama, Selangor, at 4.16pm, where two boys aged 14 and 17 were rescued, and their employer was arrested. "A subsequent raid was carried out at another car workshop at the same location at 4.25pm, where a child from Myanmar was rescued," he said. "In that operation, a 45-year-old local man believed to be the employer, along with two Myanmar nationals, were also arrested." All rescued victims were handed over to the Gombak, Brickfields, and Subang Jaya district police headquarters for further action. He added that the joint operation involved the Immigration Department, Labour Department, Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Council and the Home Ministry. It was aimed at identifying victims of human trafficking and forced labour exploitation, particularly among vulnerable groups.
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- New Straits Times
100kg pangolin meat seized in Pitas yesterday likely for local consumption
KOTA KINABALU: The 100kg kilogrammes of pangolin meat seized in Pitas yesterday is unlikely to have been intended for export, said Sabah Wildlife director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Kudat seized the meat from a boat, with the pangolins found without their scales. "The way it was packed, it wasn't meant for export. If it were for export, the pangolin meat would have been wrapped in plastic and other proper packaging. "What we saw (in the media report), they were in polystyrene, possibly for local consumption in nearby areas," he said. Soffian said it was difficult to determine if the meat was for demand from neighbouring countries, as the seizures were made in Sabah waters. However, he said the scales, which had been completely removed, were most likely already smuggled out. He was speaking to reporters after the World Wildlife Day appreciation night held at a hotel here. Earlier, the MMEA had issued a statement saying they had foiled a smuggling attempt after discovering a boat off Tanjung Layang-Layang in Pitas waters, where pangolin meat and 700kg of frozen and dried giant clams were found. Soffian said a pangolin typically weighs anywhere between 5kg and 11kg and the species can be found throughout Sabah. In Sabah, the pangolin (Manis javanica) is classified as a totally protected species under the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997. It is also listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. As for the case, he said it was very difficult for the department to investigate, as there were seizures but no arrests, and it remains unclear whether the boat was registered. Pangolin poaching and illegal trade can result in a fine of up to RM250,000, a jail term of up to five years, or both. In 2019, Sabah recorded its largest pangolin bust involving the seizure of 30 tonnes of pangolins and pangolin products.
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- New Straits Times
Patrol team deployed to Kalabakan to prevent elephant killings
KOTA KINABALU: Authorities in Sabah have deployed an active patrol team to prevent the merciless killing of elephants. State Wildlife director Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar said they are working closely with the Sabah Forestry Department to monitor elephant activity, especially in the Kalabakan area of Tawau. He said the General Operations Force is also prepared to assist once the Sabah Wildlife Department to obtain concrete information to combat wildlife crimes. This year alone, three Borneo pygmy elephants — the world's smallest elephant species — were found decapitated in the area. ( The Sabah government had also offered RM10,000 for those who have information that could lead to prosecutions for the crimes. "We have held a meeting with the Wildlife Crime Intelligence Committee (WCIC) and the policce Wildlife Crime Bureau (WCB). "Together with WCB and the Sabah Forestry Department, we currently have a patrol team in place. "When elephants are spotted in the area, the patrol team will report their locations," Soffian said during the World Wildlife Day Appreciation Night held at a hotel here. Also present was Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment permanent secretary Datuk Josie Lai, representing Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew. Soffian added that his department plans to place a tracking collar on one of the elephants next month to better monitor their movements. He added that the department was working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to gather intelligence from neighbouring countries to help tackle wildlife crime. When asked for updates on the killing of the three elephants, Soffian said the department has informants and is currently gathering concrete evidence. "From our investigation, we believe this wasn't carried out by a single individual; it was a group. When it's a group, we can't act too hastily, or we risk losing the entire network. "That's why, even though we have suspects, we need to wait for the right time to carry out an ambush." Commenting on the recently launched Human-Elephant Conflict-Earthworm Standard Operating Procedures, Soffian said it was intended for the community, especially rangers who handle elephant-related conflicts. He said the team, upon receiving and verifying information on elephant sightings, would notify the authorities and ensure the safety of the surrounding community. The SOP also aims to improve documentation and address issues related to human-elephant coexistence. The estimated Bornean elephant population in Sabah stands at around 1,500 animals. These elephants are a fully protected species under Schedule 1 of the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997.
