MMEA SELANGOR FOILS SMUGGLING OF 27 ILLEGALS OFF SUNGAI BESAR

PELABUHAN KLANG, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Selangor successfully foiled an attempt to smuggle 27 undocumented migrants aboard a local fishing vessel in the waters off Sungai Besar, Sabak Bernam, early yesterday morning.

State MMEA director, Capt Maritime Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh, said the arrests followed a joint operation, after a similar class B vessel was detained in the same waters on Jan 5.

“The skipper acted aggressively, refusing to stop. He then jumped into the sea before being captured,” he said at a press conference today.

The vessel had 30 people onboard, including 27 illegal Indonesian migrants, comprising 20 men and 7 women, aged 25-70. The 37-year-old skipper and his two crewmen, aged 36 and 59, were also detained.

"All 30 individuals failed to produce any valid identification documents during the inspection," said Abdul Muhaimin.

Abdul Muhaimin revealed that the syndicate had shifted its modus operandi from speedboats to fishing vessels, capitalising on the rising number of foreign workers in the fisheries sector.

Migrants paid between RM2,000 and RM2,500 each to be smuggled from places like Lombok and Medan.

The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, and Fisheries Act 1985.

The public is urged to report smuggling activities or maritime emergencies to the Selangor Maritime Operations Centre on 013-660 6652 or the emergency line 999.

-- BERNAMA