JOHOR BARU: The Immigration Department has thwarted a human trafficking syndicate which lures Myanmar nationals by giving them fake refugee cards.
Its Johor director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said that eight individuals from Myanmar had been apprehended, including a 49-year-old man who acted as a runner for the syndicate.
He added that each person was asked to pay RM120 for an application letter and another RM5,000 for the card, supposedly recognised by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
"Immigration conducted a raid at 11.30am on June 26 under 'Ops Serkap' following two days of surveillance at a double-storey shophouse in Kluang.
"An inspection revealed four men and a woman aged between 26 and 49, and another three men aged between 26 and 49, locked inside.
"One of the men arrested is believed to be an agent for the syndicate," he said during a press conference at the Setia Tropika Home Ministry Complex here on Monday (July 1).
He added that the three men locked in the room had not found employment and were instructed to wait until an employer picked them up.
Mohd Rusdi said that the three men were waiting for their "refugee cards", allegedly issued by the Arakan Refugee Relief Committee and had a UNHCR logo.
"We are investigating if this committee exists. Our government does not recognise such cards and only recognises those issued by UNHCR.
"Our investigations suggest the syndicate has been active for five to six years.
"However, because the syndicate targets those from their own ethnic group, it did not attract attention," he added.
The team also seized two Myanmar passports, 12 "refugee cards", a smartphone, UNHCR registration forms and RM15,855 cash.
The case is being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for entering the country without any valid pass or permit.
Meanwhile, the agent was detained under Section 12 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
