MALAYSIAN POLICE FOIL 7 SYNDICATES OF SMUGGLING PEOPLE
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Police foiled seven trafficking in person
(TIP) syndicates which have been smuggling people into the country. In a statement today, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police, in a close cooperation with the Royal Thai Police had arrested 38 individuals between March and April this year.
Among those arrested were agents, syndicate leaders,
transporters and two policemen. "The close cooperation and partnership
between our police and the Royal Thai Police to manage and monitor security
issues at the common borders have been fruitful.The individuals detained comprised 21 Myanmar citizens, 16 Malaysians and an Indonesian.
"They are being detained under Section 26(A)
of the Anti-Trafficking in Person and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act
2007," he said.He added that the syndicates operated in the northern areas of Malaysia and south Thailand, and their victims were predominantly Myanmar nationals and Bangladeshis.
These syndicates were also believed to be involved in the
falsification of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
documents, he added.Between the late hours of May 10 and early morning of May 11, the police had arrested 1,018 illegal migrants on the shores of Langkawi, comprising 555 Bangladeshis and 463 Myanmar citizens.
Two vessels used by them had also been confiscated for further investigation and onward action.
Source: NST
MSIA-AUSTRALIA TO TACKLE PEOPLE SMUGGLING
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Australia are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) by February next year to jointly tackle human smuggling and trafficking.
Source: The Star Online
- Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the problem was of great concern to both countries. “The numbers are big enough to justify serious action and the sharing of information by both countries,” he said at a joint news conference with Duncan Lewis, the National Security Adviser to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
- They had earlier attended the Malaysia-Australia Working Group Meeting on the Issue of Smuggling and Trafficking of Humans, here, yesterday. Present at the function were high ranking officers from various enforcement agencies, including the Police and Customs.
- Lewis complimented Malaysia for the “considerable success achieved in recent weeks and months.”
- “The most important outcome of the meeting is our committment to move forward to a formal agreement, perhaps an MoU that needs to be ratified by both countries,” Lewis added.
- Hishammuddin said the political will and enthusiasm shown by both countries had enabled yesterday’s high-level meeting to be convened at short notice.
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