By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 8: Swift action by the Enforcement and Border Control Unit of the Sarawak Immigration Department successfully thwarted a human smuggling attempt in Kampung Biawak, Lundu.
In a TVS news report, the Sarawak Immigration Department said authorities detected suspicious movements involving five individuals believed to be illegal immigrants (PATI) emerging from a forested area and boarding a vehicle.
The vehicle, driven by a local man, attempted to flee but was swiftly intercepted and stopped by enforcement officers in the Batu Kawa area.
“Thanks to the efficiency of the officers, the vehicle was successfully stopped. Further checks revealed that all five individuals did not possess valid travel documents,” the statement said.
Preliminary investigations revealed that each foreign national had paid between RM400 and RM500 to a smuggling syndicate to be transported to Kuching city.
“The syndicate is believed to have used illegal forest routes to bypass inspections at gazetted entry points,” the statement added.
All five Indonesian nationals and the local man acting as their transporter were arrested. Authorities also seized a vehicle and a mobile phone.
The case is being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007 for offences committed by the transporter, and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for offences committed by the illegal immigrants. — DayakDaily
