SEPANG: Those with family members who are being held against their will by human-trafficking syndicates overseas have been urged to come forward to the police immediately.

       Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hasan said information from family members would be vital in building up intelligence on these syndicates.

       “We need this information so that we can focus on rescuing all the Malaysians trapped by these syndicates.

       “Initially, we received 35 reports involving 45 individuals who were trapped by syndicates overseas but through our investigations, we managed to identify 16 who were forced to work in Cambodia.

       “Among other countries where Malaysians are currently being held against their will are Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.

       “We advise those with information on the cases or family members to come forward immediately if they have not done so,” he told reporters at klia2 yesterday after the arrival of 12 Malaysian men from Cambodia.

       The dozen men were held captive there by a syndicate to work in “customer service”.

       Foreign Ministry deputy secretary-general of bilateral affairs Datuk Amran Mohamed Zin said based on initial information from the Malaysian Embassy in Phnom Penh, the 12 were involved in activities that were against local laws.

       Four others tested positive for Covid-19 and have been placed under quarantine there.

       “The ministry, through the embassy there, worked closely with our counterparts in Cambodia to bring these individuals back.

       “Even though the Cambodian government found that they had broken the law there, they put aside any legal action against them so that we could bring them home,” he told reporters, adding that the four under quarantine would be monitored closely by the embassy there.

       Amran said the Cambodian government had banned online gambling on Jan 1, 2020, and since then operations had been ongoing there to curb such activities.

       “The 16 were caught by Cambodian authorities on April 4 and sent to Phnom Penh three days later. We continuously worked with our counterparts there through the embassy to ensure their return,” he said.