IPOH: There will be no compromise on rank and file police personnel found to be colluding with human smuggling syndicates, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said.
"There will be no compromise on this matter even though it is our officers or personnel. We will take action and arrest (them)," he said.
Hamid was commenting on the 18 enforcement personnel who were detained in an operation conducted from June 15 to June 18 in Johor after they were found to be involved in a human trafficking syndicate.
He said that the arrests were crucial despite the threat of Covid-19, as the authorities needed to put a full stop on the human trafficking issue.
"The operation was conducted nationwide by the Criminal Investigation Department including Sabah and Sarawak, not only in Johor.
"I have also spoken with Armed Forces chief General (Tan Sri Affendi Buang) to conduct the operations holistically between the police and the armed forces.
"Those identified were in cahoots with the syndicate and will pay for their crimes," he added.
It was reported that just for between RM500 and RM1,000 a month, a group of 18 enforcement officers and personnel were allegedly willing to sell information to the human trafficking syndicate.
All those detained were aged between 24 and 41-years-old.
Apart from the five Armed Forces personnel, the rest comprised a police assistant superintendent and 12 low-ranking Police personnel - nine from the Kota Tinggi district police headquarters, two from the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters and one from the Region Two Marine headquarters.