JOHOR BARU: Police have smashed a syndicate responsible for smuggling in Bangladeshi nationals from Singapore to the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex following a raid at a housing area in Taman Daya here.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the raid conducted around 5.30am on Sept 9 was carried out by the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department (D7) and the Criminal Investigation Department of the Johor police contingent headquarters.
He mentioned that intelligence gathered found that the smuggling of migrants at the Johor Causeway area has been active since August this year, orchestrated by individuals from Bangladesh and locals.
"Additionally, 21 male Bangladeshi migrants aged between 19 and 44 years old were detained. Seized items include 25 mobile phones, 22 Bangladeshi passports, cash in Malaysian Ringgit (RM1,200), Singapore Dollars (SGD2), Bangladeshi Taka (5,460), and two cars," he said in a statement on Thursday (Oct 3).
Comm Kumar said that the migrants managed by agents in Bangladesh are charged a fee of 550,000 Taka or RM20,000 each.
"The migrants would transit at Changi Airport, Singapore before being managed by the syndicate agents to enter Malaysia by walking through remote paths heading to the Sultan Iskandar Building (BSI).
"Subsequently, the migrants would be picked up by transporters to be sent to the holding house," he added.
He said that investigation papers for all those detained have been referred to the Deputy Public Prosecutor's Office and directions given to charge the 21 migrants under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Comm Kumar added that four managers or transporters or caretakers of the holding house will be charged under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
"All 21 migrants were charged at the Johor Baru Magistrate's Court on Sept 23 and the case will be mentioned again on Oct 13. Charges against the four managers or transporters or caretakers of the holding house will be made at the Johor Baru Sessions Court this morning," he said.
Comm Kumar said police view this matter seriously and will not compromise with any individual or party conspiring with migrant smuggling syndicates for certain gains.
He urged the public to be the eyes and ears of the police, adding that such cooperation will help curb such activities.
"If left unchecked, these activities will have significant implications on national security issues, morality, universal harmony, and the sovereignty of the country," he added.
