KUALA LUMPUR: A migrant smuggling syndicate was smashed with the arrest of two Malaysian men and 33 illegals in Kelantan recently.
Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh today said the illegals were nabbed in Kubang Kerian and Lembah Sireh, Kota Baru, on June 10.
Ruslin said 19 Special Tactical Unit (Pastak) members, along with the Kelantan Immigration border risk unit, were mobilised to track a group of illegals.
"The team, working on a tip-off, raided a transit house and caught four Bangladeshis.
"The team also detained a Thai woman and two Indian men trying to flee in a car.
"The team obtained information on motorcycle transporters believed to be attempting to transfer illegals to the Lembah Sireh express bus terminal."
Ruslin said the team went to the terminal and nabbed two Malaysian men, each riding with a Myanmar national.
"The team checked the area around the terminal and detained 24 illegals, consisting of 17 men and seven women.
"The syndicate is believed to have changed its modus operandi by recruiting motorcycle riders to transport illegals from transit houses to express bus terminals.
"This is to expedite the movement of illegals to areas outside Kelantan and to avoid detection by the authorities."
Ruslin said the syndicate charged between RM2,000 and RM3,000 for each illegal.
He added the illegals detained were between 20 and 50 years old.
