Malaysian Immigration Foils Sea Smuggling Attempt, 20 Indonesian Migrants Detained in Lumut

LUMUT: The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) has successfully foiled an illegal migrant smuggling operation involving undocumented Indonesian nationals attempting to enter the country through a sea route near Telok Senangin, Lumut, Perak.

In a statement issued on Thursday, immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the special operation was carried out at around 1.25am on May 7 by officers from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division of Immigration Headquarters in Putrajaya, with assistance from the Perak Immigration Department.

The operation followed three weeks of intelligence gathering and public tip-offs regarding suspicious migrant movements along coastal areas stretching from Kuala Selangor to Lumut.

Authorities detected the arrival of migrants believed to have travelled illegally from Tanjung Balai, Indonesia, before landing at the Telok Senangin coastline.

During the operation, immigration officers detained 20 Indonesian nationals, consisting of nine men and 11 women aged between 19 and 59 years old.

Initial investigations revealed that several of the detainees were believed to be “prohibited immigrants” who had previously been blacklisted or placed under the department’s watchlist, preventing them from legally entering Malaysia.

According to JIM, the smuggling syndicate used illegal maritime routes operated by agents believed to be based in Tanjungbalai. Fishing boats were allegedly used to transport migrants in an attempt to avoid detection by enforcement authorities.

Upon arriving at coastal landing points, the migrants were reportedly transported by land vehicles to predetermined destinations within the country.

Authorities said each migrant was charged approximately RM1,500 to enter Malaysia illegally through the syndicate’s network.

All detainees are being investigated under Section 36 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for immigration-related offences.

They have since been taken to the Immigration Office for further action and investigation.

Datuk Zakaria stressed that the Immigration Department will continue intensifying enforcement operations and will not compromise with any party involved in migrant smuggling activities.

He said firm action would continue to be taken to safeguard the nation’s sovereignty and national security from illegal cross-border activities.