Immigration Raid in Taman Maluri, Kuala Lumpur: Seven Bangladeshis Arrested, Two Human Trafficking Syndicate Members Identified

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22: The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) has arrested seven Bangladeshi nationals in a targeted operation at a serviced apartment in Taman Maluri, Kuala Lumpur, identifying two as suspected members of the human trafficking syndicate known as the “Iqbal Syndicate.”

In a statement on Thursday, Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation was carried out under the supervision of JIM’s Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Division and the Anti-Money Laundering (AMLA) Division, based on intelligence-led investigations.

During the raid, five Bangladeshi men aged between 27 and 44 were detained as suspected smuggled migrants. Two others, aged 56 and 28, were arrested as suspected syndicate operatives, one reportedly acting as a safe house coordinator and the other as a transporter.

Investigations revealed that the migrants’ passports did not bear valid Malaysian entry stamps. A Perodua Myvi vehicle believed to have been used to transport the migrants was also seized.

All seven individuals were taken to the Immigration Headquarters in Putrajaya for further investigation. They are being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670) and the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155). Victim identification procedures in line with the National Guideline on Human Trafficking Indicators (NGHTI) 2.0 were also followed during the operation.

Intelligence reports indicate that the migrants had entered Malaysia illegally via land routes from Thailand through the Kelantan border. The suspects are linked to the “Iqbal Syndicate,” which was recently disrupted by JIM in Kelantan. The syndicate’s modus operandi involves smuggling migrants overland, temporarily housing them in safe houses, and transporting them to their next destinations.

Datuk Zakaria emphasized, “JIM remains committed to combating all forms of human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Any individual, syndicate, employer, or property owner who employs, shelters, or colludes with undocumented migrants will face strict legal action.”

He also urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to human trafficking or migrant smuggling through JIM’s official channels.

“Public cooperation is essential to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and the integrity of Malaysia’s immigration system,” he added.