Malaysian authorities dismantle migrant smuggling ring in daring raid
A migrant smuggling syndicate has been dismantled after a raid on a safe house in Malaysia. Authorities arrested 13 people, including 12 Bangladeshi immigrants and a Rohingya man from Myanmar. The operation targeted a criminal network believed to have smuggled immigrants into the country since early 2024.
The raid was carried out by a special team from the Immigration Department’s Prevention Division, working alongside Kelantan’s Enforcement Division. Officers discovered the safe house, which was used to temporarily hold immigrants who had entered Malaysia illegally. Those detained were waiting to pay outstanding fees before being moved to their final destinations.
Each immigrant had been charged between RM10,000 and RM15,000, with total profits from the operation estimated at RM1.5 million. Investigators suspect the local property owner collaborated with the syndicate. The group’s main mastermind, a Bangladeshi national known as 'Iqbal', is believed to be operating from Thailand. The syndicate relied on a network of agents in immigrants’ home countries to coordinate illegal entries. As part of the operation, authorities also conducted victim identification among vulnerable groups to uncover further details about the smuggling ring.
The raid has disrupted a major smuggling operation active since the start of the year. With 13 arrests made, investigations will now focus on tracking down the syndicate’s leader and dismantling the wider network. The Immigration Department continues to monitor illegal entry points and criminal groups exploiting vulnerable immigrants.
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