GOF Central Brigade Detains 335 Illegal Migrants Since Jan 1

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- The General Operations Force (GOF) Central Brigade has detained 335 foreign nationals from Jan 1 until today for attempting to enter the country through illegal entry points.

GOF Central Brigade commander SAC Hakemal Hawari said the brigade also detained 37 suspected migrant smugglers operating via sea and land routes during the same period.

"All arrests were made in 38 raids carried out within the brigade’s area of responsibility covering Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor," he said in a statement here today.

According to him, those detained for attempting to enter the country comprised 237 men, 96 women and two boys.

“Those detained for allegedly acting as land and sea transporters involved five local men, 29 Indonesian men, two Indonesian women and one Myanmar man,” he said

Hakemal said the brigade also seized 20 vehicles, three boats and 57 mobile phones, with the total value of the confiscated items amounting to RM1.6 million.

“All individuals detained are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007,” he said.

During the same period, the brigade also carried out 159 raids, detained 551 individuals and seized various items worth RM242 million in other operations.

He added that the operations involved Op Taring Alpha, Op Taring Bravo, Op Taring Charlie, Op Taring Delta, Op Hazard, Op Mitra, Integrated Khazanah Operations (OBK), Op Palma and Op Intra/Inter Agency.

-- BERNAMA