“Bangladeshi Woman Linked to Fake Visa Syndicate: 9 Others Nabbed in Malaysia Human Trafficking Crackdown”

Putrajaya: Malaysia’s Immigration Department (JIM) has arrested 9 individuals in a special operation targeting human trafficking and a fake visa syndicate. Among those detained was a 32-year-old Bangladeshi woman accused of operating a fraudulent visa website called “Key Malaysia.”

According to JIM, the website was designed to resemble Malaysia’s official visa portal and deceived foreign nationals into applying for eVISAs. Each applicant was charged between RM300 and RM500—two to three times the official fee. Initial investigations suggest that since 2022, the site has processed more than 52,000 applications.

The syndicate offered two options: “Regular Visa” (3–5 working days) and “Urgent Visa” (2–3 working days). After collecting payment, applicants often received fake cancellation notices. In many cases, live chat operators even threatened to blacklist passports if further payments were not made.

The Bangladeshi woman, who had been frequently traveling in and out of Malaysia on a social visit pass for the past three years, was detained under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963. Her husband has also been summoned to assist in the investigation.

Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria bin Shaaban said, “Fraudulent websites like this not only cheat the public but also tarnish the image of Malaysia’s Immigration Department. In line with the Madani principles, we will continue to take firm action to safeguard national security and public trust.”

Separately, in Kajang, Selangor, JIM carried out another raid and arrested nine more suspects linked to a human trafficking syndicate. Among them were a Malaysian couple suspected of being “transporters,” three Indonesian men believed to be “premise guards,” and four other Indonesians (two men and two women) for illegal stay. The suspects, aged between 26 and 60, were found without valid travel documents or had overstayed their visas.

During the raid, officers seized four Indonesian passports, seven mobile phones, RM1,455 in cash, and a Perodua Alza vehicle.

All detainees are being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM) and the Immigration Act 1959/63. Additionally, a Malaysian woman has been summoned to assist in the probe.

@voice of malaysia news