SABAH Immigration believes they have quashed a major human trafficking syndicate responsible for providing migrants, particularly those from the Philippines, secret access into Malaysia via the state’s territorial waters.
Sabah Immigration Director Datuk SH Sitti Saleha Habib Yusoff said that the authorities had been actively pursuing the syndicate for a long time and receiving information to determine its operations since 2021.
“The syndicate has been charging migrants between RM1,500 and RM2,500 for the service.
“They had been using an island called Pulau Bakungan Besar before bringing in the migrants into Sabah illegally,” she told the media in Sabah yesterday.
The island is located in the Celebes Sea, some 250km away from the southeastern coast of Sabah.
Sitti said that immigration enforcement officers moved in on the syndicate on January 27 and arrested eleven Filipino migrants in Penampang district.
“Three children, five men and three women were detained in the early morning operation carried out around 4.30am when officers stopped a pick-up truck.
“Nine of the migrants were found inside the vehicle, while three others were found hiding inside the bed of the pick-up truck,” she said.
The migrants had attempted to flee but failed. The driver, a 26-year-old Malaysian, was also arrested during the operation.
Sitti said that the driver had been detected departing from Sandakan at about 9.30pm on January 26 heading towards Kota Kinabalu, before the arrests were made.
“Based on intelligence gathered, the department also identified a house in Penampang believed to be used as a transit house for the migrants before they were sent to other locations,” she said.
Sitti added that a follow-up raid was done on the house. Seven foreigners and four Malaysians are believed to be involved in the illegal migration activities.
The department can take action against the offenders under Section 55e of the Immigration Act for allowing undocumented foreigners to enter or stay in a premise in which they had direct interest, and also Section 26(A) of the Anti-trafficking of Persons and Anti-smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
Sitti also warned employers in Sabah not to hire migrants who do not have proper documentation.
She pointed out that 22 employers were charged in court over such offences in 2023. – The Vibes, January 30, 2024
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