'GENG SOJUL' SMUGGLING SYNDICATE CRIPPLED - IMMIGRATION DG

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2  (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Immigration Department has crippled a migrant smuggling syndicate known as the “Sojul Gang” following the arrest of two male transporters -- a local and a foreign national-- in an operation in Kuchai Lama here yesterday.

Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation, which began at about 1.30 pm, also led to the arrest of 20 illegal immigrants believed to have been recently smuggled into the country via an illegal entry point in Kelantan.

He said the first raid was conducted in the parking lot of a supermarket, where the Immigration team intercepted a four-wheel drive (4X4) vehicle and a sports utility vehicle (SUV), leading to the arrest of eight foreigners.

"Following that, the enforcement team raided a condominium, believed to be used as a safe house, nearby and arrested 12 Bangladeshi men who were waiting to be sent to the south of the country and in the Klang Valley," he said in a statement today.

Zakaria said the syndicate is believed to be active since December last year, using a modus operandi that involved bringing migrants in via third countries before they illegally entered Malaysia through the Kelantan border.

He said each migrant was charged RM12,000, with the syndicate estimated to have earned up to RM1.2 million during its two-month operation. 

Out of the 20 illegal immigrants, who are between 18 and 49, that were detained, one of them is a Myanmar national, while the rest are Bangladeshis.

"Also seized were two vehicles, several copies of Bangladeshi passports and cash of  RM82,100 and USD3,700 (approximately RM15,600)," he said.

He said all the suspects are being detained at the Putrajaya Immigration Depot for further investigation under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007, the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Passport Act 1966.

-- BERNAMA