GOF busts human trafficking syndicate in Kedah and Penang, arrests four, rescues

JITRA, Jan 17 — The General Operations Force (GOF) has smashed a human trafficking syndicate led by three locals and a Myanmar national in operations in Kedah and Penang, arresting four suspects and rescuing 16 migrants.

GOF Northern Brigade commander SAC Balveer Singh Mahindar Singh said the operations occurred on Wednesday and Thursday, targeting locations at the Jitra Toll Plaza in Kedah and Nibong Tebal in Penang.

In the first operation, police arrested two local men and a 16-year-old girl, believed to act as 'transporters' using rented vehicles to move the migrants.

"Further checks revealed 16 illegal immigrants believed to be from Myanmar, all of whom had entered the country via unregulated routes from neighbouring countries," he told a press conference.

He added that the suspects had been promised payment and were believed to have carried out such activities several times over the past eight months.

The team seized two vehicles, 18 mobile phones, cash, and jewellery, with a total value exceeding RM254,030.

Following the initial arrests, a Myanmar man in his 30s, believed to be the syndicate leader, was detained in Nibong Tebal the next day.

All four suspects were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 for 28 days, while the migrants were remanded for 14 days under the Immigration Act 1959/63.

The case is being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007 for the suspects and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for the migrants.

Balveer Singh noted that last year, 14 investigation papers were opened under the ATIPSOM Act, involving 18 individuals and seizures of RM631,380.

Under the Immigration Act, 102 cases were recorded last year, with 500 arrests and seizures exceeding RM1.3 million.