Immigration officers nabbed over suspected involvement in migrant smuggling syndicate

Police have arrested a senior officer as well as two officers of Immigration Department (JIM) suspected of being involved in the trafficking of migrants.

The three, aged between 30 and 48 were arrested yesterday at the Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal, here.

Johor police chief Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the syndicate was believed to be providing fake JIM inbound and outbound stamp services for use by migrants using social visit pass that had expired before the Movement Control Order came into force.

According to the investigation, migrants were charged between RM1,500 to RM2,500 each.

"As they arrived at the Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal, the movement of migrants using counterfeit stamps would be handled by an immigration officer who was cooperating with the syndicate to administer their return home (Indonesia)," he said.

Ayob Khan said the activities of smuggling syndicate from Indonesia through the Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal to Batam Centre, Indonesia, have been active since early May when the government implemented the Conditional Movement Control Order.

He said they are currently being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007, by adopting an investigative procedure under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

Apart from them, he said a 41-year-old marine police officer at the Marine Operations Headquarters in Putrajaya was also arrested on June 19 for allegedly engaging in migrant smuggling syndicates since 2017.

He said the suspect is currently under investigation under Section 130V to 130ZB of Section 6B of the Penal Code for organised crime by using the investigative procedure under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

With the latest arrests, he said they have now detained 14 police officers and personnel, five members of Malaysian Armed Forces and three Immigration officers suspected of conspiring with migrant smuggling syndicates especially on the east coast of the state.