PADANG BESAR: Perlis Smuggling Prevention Unit (UPP) foiled an attempt by 53 illegal immigrants to enter the country via Thailand when they were rounded up in a rubber estate in Felcra Lubuk Sireh on Sunday.
The immigrants, comprising Bangladesh and Myanmar nationals including women and children, were apparently awaiting for members of a human trafficking syndicate to take them into the country when the UPP team intercepted them in the 9.15pm raid.
Its commander Deputy Superintendent Syed Basri Syed Ali said based on initial investigation, the immigrants had paid between RM5,000 and RM7,000 each to the syndicate to smuggle them into Malaysia.
"We believe they had came to Thailand via boats before crossing the Malaysia-Thai border on foot and were awaiting for the trafficker to take them out from the location," he said in a press conference at the state UPP headquarters today.
He said the immigrants were arrested after failing to furnish valid travel documents.
The case had been classified under Section 6 (3) of the Immigration Act for entering the country illegally and all of the immigrants were handed over to the state Immigration Department for further action.