GOF CENTRAL BRIGADE BUSTS MIGRANT SMUGGLING SYNDICATE IN SABAK BERNAM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- The Central Brigade of the General Operations Force (GOF), through its Task Force Delta unit, crippled a migrant smuggling syndicate with the arrest of two skippers and 43 illegal migrants in a raid in Sabak Bernam, Selangor, on Thursday.

The operation, conducted under Ops Taring Delta at about 5.30 am, led to the detention of 43 Indonesian nationals, 31 men and 12 women, who were found gathered along the coastline while preparing to leave Malaysia illegally.

GOF Central Brigade commander SAC Hakemal Hawari said the two Indonesian men believed to be acting as sea skippers were also detained. A fishing boat and two mobile phones were seized, with total confiscated items valued at RM51,000.

“Intelligence findings revealed that the syndicate charged between RM1,000 and RM3,000 per individual to facilitate illegal departures from the country,” he said at a press conference at the GOF Central Brigade headquarters here today.

All suspects are being investigated under Section 26(2) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Hakemal said smugglers were increasingly switching from speedboats to fishing vessels to evade detection, as the latter appeared less suspicious to authorities and the public.

He added that syndicates frequently changed locations and used social media to advertise their services, although such activities had been curtailed with the cooperation of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

He noted a marked increase in migrant smuggling ahead of festive seasons, likely due to migrants attempting to return to their home countries.

ATIPSOM cases handled by the Central Brigade rose from 13 in 2023 to 17 in 2024, before surging to 33 in 2025, involving total seizures exceeding RM4.7 million, he said.

Hakemal added that since the Delta unit was established in August last year, the team has successfully implemented various strategic measures to combat migrant smuggling, particularly along Malaysia’s maritime borders from Selangor to Johor.

-- BERNAMA