Human traffickers rope in motorcyclists to ferry illegals

Source: The Star

PETALING JAYA: Human traffickers are now using motorcyclists to ferry illegal immigrants, says the Immigration Department.

Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh yesterday said a group was busted following an early morning crackdown in Kubang Kerian and Lembah Sireh in Kelantan on June 10.

The operation was conducted following tip-offs from the public and the department's intelligence gathering.

"A raid was conducted at a transit home, which led to the arrest of four Bangladeshi men. Also arrested were a Thai woman and two Indian men in a car who tried to escape," he said.

Another raid was conducted after the authorities were told that illegal immigrants were being transported to the Lembah Sireh express bus terminal.

"Checks around the terminal led to the arrest of 24 illegal immigrants, made up of 17 men and seven women, who we believe were waiting for a bus to reach a set destination," he said.

It is believed that the syndicate charged between RM2,000 and RM3,000 for each immigrant to assist them to enter the country.