RM100 Payment Lures Teen into Smuggling Undocumented Migrants Using Family Vehicle
TUMPAT: A small payment of RM100 per person was enough to draw an 18-year-old teenager into a human smuggling operation, where he allegedly used a family-owned pickup truck without permission to transport undocumented migrants.
The activity was uncovered during an enforcement operation conducted by the Pasukan Gerakan Am (PGA) Battalion 9 in collaboration with the Tumpat District Police Criminal Investigation Division along the Terbak–Kelaboran Belukar route late last night.
Southeast Brigade Commander Ahmad Radzi Hussain said patrol officers became suspicious of a Mitsubishi Triton parked beneath a bridge in Kampung Pulau Ular.
Upon noticing the presence of authorities, the driver attempted to flee before stopping along the roadside, raising further suspicion.
“Two individuals seated in the front managed to escape, but a subsequent search uncovered five foreign nationals in the rear of the vehicle,” he said.
Authorities later confirmed that the group comprised four Indian nationals and one Sri Lankan, aged between 20 and 61.
A follow-up raid at a residence in Kampung Bunohan early this morning led to the arrest of a man believed to be the land-based smuggler involved in the operation.
During interrogation, the suspect admitted to transporting the migrants for RM100 per person to the Kota Bharu Bus Station and revealed that the vehicle used belonged to his brother and was taken without consent.
Investigations also indicated that the migrants had entered Malaysia via river routes from Thailand before being transported inland.
A urine screening test showed that the teenager tested positive for methamphetamine, while the five migrants tested negative.
The case is being investigated under Section 55E and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, as well as Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
-wilayah.com.my
