SEPANG: A local woman has been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle several foreign nationals into the country using the special fast-track immigration lane at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 2.
The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) said the incident occurred on Oct 15 when the 34-year-old suspect, who works as a hotel lounge supervisor, tried to escort six Indonesian passengers through the immigration counter using fast-track slips to bypass standard checks.
“Initial investigations revealed that the woman is believed to have received payment for each passenger successfully brought into the country.
“The activity was allegedly carried out without her employer’s knowledge and during her day off,” the agency said in a statement on Friday (Oct 17).
Further intelligence also pointed to the involvement of several other individuals, including hotel staff members and a private company, who are suspected of arranging the illegal entry of foreigners using a similar modus operandi.
“The syndicate is believed to have been operating for over a year and is linked to the entry of individuals from Indonesia, China, Vanuatu, Cambodia and Laos.
“The woman has been detained under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and is currently being held at the Aeropolis lock-up for further investigation,” the agency added.
Meanwhile, the six Indonesian nationals have been placed at the Putrajaya Immigration Detention Depot under the Immigration Act.
“We remain committed to continuous monitoring and enforcement efforts to curb migrant smuggling, human trafficking and the abuse of special facilities at the nation’s entry points,” the agency said.
