PONTIAN: Ten illegal immigrants from Indonesia and four alleged human smugglers were arrested by the General Operations Force (GOF) during a raid in Jalan Kampung Serong Laut, Serkat, here.
GOF Fifth Battalion commanding officer Supt Dimin Awang said that the raid was conducted at about 9.30am on Sunday (June 27) on a house the syndicate used to transit illegal immigrants.
Those arrested consisted of five Indonesian men and five Indonesian women aged from 18 to 36 while the transporters were local men aged from 21 to 45.
"The suspects confessed they entered the country on a boat via an uncharted route and landed in Kampung Kubur, Telok Kerang.
"The transporter then took the illegal immigrants to the house in Kampung Serong Laut, while waiting to be transported to Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur," he said in a statement here on Monday (June 28).
Police also confiscated four vehicles used to transport the immigrants.
"All confiscated items are worth RM197,537 and the suspects have been brought to the Pontian district police headquarters for further action," he said, adding that the syndicate had been active for a year.
The case is being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which provides jail of up to 15 years or fine or both on conviction.
Those arrested would also be investigated under Section 6(1)(C) and Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for entering the country without a valid permit which provides for a fine of not more than RM10,000 or jail of up to five years, or both, and up to six strokes of whipping on conviction.
Meanwhile, Supt Dimin said that this year, the GOF Fifth Battalion had arrested 124 people for human trafficking comprising 51 locals, 67 Indonesians, one Bangladesh, one Myanmar and four from China.
"Thirty two reports were made under the Customs Act 1967, Immigration Act, Atipsom Act, Firearms Act, Explosives Act and others," he said, adding that the GOF has also confiscated items worth over RM18mil.