KUALA LUMPUR: Police have crippled a human trafficking syndicate masterminded by a Malaysian with the arrest of 11 members and discovery of 66 victims.
The syndicate that actively smuggled in migrants via Sungai Golok, Kelantan since April this year was busted in a series of operations conducted by the Federal police Special Branch between Sept 22 and Sept 25.
Federal police Special Branch deputy director II Datuk Cheong Koon Kock said the syndicate members, six Malaysians and five from Myanmar, had acted as agents and transporters.
“The four-day special operation was conducted in several locations in the Klang Valley, Pahang, Penang and Kelantan.
“The syndicate brings in the migrants who will then be placed at the estates,” he said in a press conference at the Bukit Aman police headquarter today.
Cheong said the same syndicate was also believed to be involved in drug trafficking activities.
He added that the man who was shot dead at Jalan Bandar 10, Puchong on Tuesday was a member of the syndicate.
“During the incident, eight Myanmar nationals were also in the car, and were later detained by the police.”
The man, a Malaysian, tried to ram his vehicle into the police when they attempted to arrest him in Puchong Jaya at 7.30pm on Tuesday.
All the syndicate members were arrested under the Security Offenses (Special Measures) Act 2012, while the Myanmar migrants were detained under the Immigration Act 1959/63.