MACC Arrests Nine Individuals Including Five Enforcement Officers Involved In Illegal Immigrants Smuggling Syndicate
THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested nine individuals, including five enforcement officers for suspected of involvement in an illegal immigrant (PATI) smuggling syndicate in Sabah.
The five, including two female officers, aged from 30 to 41, were arrested in between 2.30pm to 8.40pm, yesterday.
In a special joint operation between the MACC and the National Registration Department (NRD) known as "Op Lancar", four suspects believed to be acting as PATI agents from a neighboring country, involving three local women aged between 37 to 48 and a 73 year-old man were also arrested between 3.30pm to 6pm on 23rd March 2023.
The syndicate's modus operandi is that every PATI or Temporary Resident who does not have complete documents or has restricted movements will pay around RM2,500 to the PATI agent if they want to leave Sabah via Tawau Airport.
The syndicate will then supply valid MyKad and boarding passes with the names of the original owners of the MyKad to the PATI groups who use their services.
The PATI from the neighboring country involved will then pass the inspection of the authorities at Tawau Airport and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (KLIA2) after a payment is made to the enforcement officer.
The MACC also found that, for each flight to KLIA2, the agent would bring between five to 20 illegal immigrants and this syndicate is believed to have been operating since 2018.
In the same operation, the MACC confiscated several items such as mobile phones, Malaysian identity cards which belong to other individuals and Sabah exit stamps complete with serial numbers.
In the meantime, the NRD in the special operation has also arrested 12 PATI who were found to have entered the country using the syndicate.
The MACC will continue to work closely with NRD and other law enforcement agencies to combat PATI smuggling syndicate.
THE MALAYSIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION
PUTRAJAYA
25TH MARCH 2023
