SHAH ALAM: A group of 56 Indonesian illegal immigrants were packed like sardines at a hostel here and living amidst filth with insufficient food.
They were at the premises for about five days before the Anti-Trafficking and People Smuggling Division (Atipsom) of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) found them during the Op Pintas raid in Jalan Kebun here yesterday (Dec 14).
Harian Metro, which followed the operation, found that the Indonesians were living in deplorable conditions. They were placed in four dirty hostel rooms and luggage and other items were strewn about the rooms.
It is understood that agents allegedly used the premises as a transit point as they wanted to ferry the illegal immigrants to Dumai, Indonesia.
Forty three men slept in a cramped living room, while 12 women slept in the four rooms.
One of those detained said he had paid an agent RM3,500 to bring himself and his wife back to Indonesia.
"We were instructed to stay here upon transit to be taken by boat back to Indonesia. It was supposed to happen tonight (yesterday) at 9pm.
"Here, we only have basic meals – rice, tempeh, boiled water and instant noodles. Even though we paid the agent, they still demanded RM50 each allegedly for the hostel stay," he said when interviewed at the location yesterday.
Bukit Aman CID deputy director (Operational Research) Deputy Commissioner Fadil Marsus said they detained four male suspects believed to be acting as caretakers and their assistants.
He said the suspects, who are also Indonesians were believed to have been actively involved in the smuggling of migrants in and out of Malaysia via sea routes. He said the suspects have been involved in the illegal activity for the past three months.
"The suspects acted as caretakers, and they exposed their involvement in these activities using sea routes. They took instructions from several Aceh men (their main agents).
"The main agent would pay them RM500 for each delivery. Each migrant was charged a fee ranging from RM1,500 to RM2,000," he said.
Fadil said the fees would also be used to smuggle the illegal immigrants to Malaysia as they would take them from Tanjung Balai and Dumai in Indonesia through sea routes before landing in coastal areas around Malaysia.
He said they seized a Honda City believed to be used for transporting migrants, RM1,000 and three mobile phones of various brands.
"All the seized items were taken to the Shah Alam district police headquarters for further investigation under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
"Investigations are also being carried out under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63," he said.
