SEBERANG PRAI: Police smashed a human trafficking syndicate, involved in the smuggling of Myanmar nationals, following separate raids under 'Op Pintas' here on Saturday.
The operation, as a result of police intelligence, was conducted by a team from the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department and the state police contingent headquarters' Criminal Investigation Department of Vice, Gambling and Secret Society (D7); and the state police contingent headquarters' Special Investigation Department (D9).
Two local men, a local woman and a woman from Myanmar, believed to be the masterminds of the activity were detained.
State Criminal Investigations Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Rahimi Ra'ais said the four, aged between 43 and 66, detained separately, were believed to be responsible for bringing in the illegal immigrants by road through the Bukit Kayu Hitam border.
"Through the operation, 21 men and five women, all Myanmar nationals aged between 20 and 35, were detained by the police.
"Preliminary investigations also found that each illegal immigrant had paid between RM4,000 and RM5,000 to the mastermind to be brought into Malaysia," he said today.
Rahimi said, in the raids, police also seized four cars, cell phones and a sum of cash.
All those detained, including the illegal immigrants, were taken to the Seberang Prai Utara district police headquarters for further action.
"All masterminds arrested are being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007. If convicted, they can be punished with imprisonment not exceeding 15 years or a fine or both.
"As for the illegal immigrants, they are investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. If convicted, they can be punished with imprisonment not exceeding five years or a fine not exceeding RM10,000 or both, and may also be liable with whipping not more than six strokes," he added.
