Special operation exposes KLIA2 migrant smuggling channel using a Malaysian carrier and corrupt officers via WhatsApp
PETALING JAYA: A covert airport smuggling route that relied on WhatsApp communications between a Malaysian “carrier” and airport immigration officers were exposed following a two-week intelligence-led operation, according to Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban.
In a statement today, Zakaria said the special operation – conducted at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 (KLIA2) on Dec 1 – involved officers from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division at the Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya, assisted by the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS).
“Based on two weeks of intelligence, the operations team was mobilised to the location and successfully arrested a Malaysian man believed to be a ‘carrier’ bringing in foreign nationals irregularly.
“Also arrested were a male national of Saint Kitts and Nevis and a female national of China believed to be migrants brought in irregularly. All those arrested are aged between 25 and 34.”
Zakaria said early checks found both foreign nationals held valid Social Visit Passes (PLS). Officers seized one China passport, one Saint Kitts and Nevis passport, one Malaysian passport, and immgiration security stamp, mobile phones and RM23,100 in cash.
He said the “carrier”, a Malaysian, used a pre-arranged system with immigration officers manning specific counters.
“The modus operandi used was that the “carrier”, who is a Malaysian national, would bring the migrants to a designated counter to facilitate their passage through the inspection point.
“The “carrier” would give instructions to the migrants on the route to be used to the counter that had been “set”, along with sketches or illustrations showing the position of the counter to be used.”
He said officers stationed at those counters were suspected of complict after receiving prior alerts on the migrants’ arrival through WhatsApp.
“The officer on duty at the inspection counter is suspected to be involved by knowing in advance the migrants’ entry movements through the WhatsApp application, when the “carrier” sent pictures of the clothing worn by the migrants to help the officer identify the migrants who were to be allowed through.”
Zakaria said the carrier monitored the migrants’ movement from afar as they passed through the counter.
“After the migrants succesfully passed the Immigration Inspection Counter, the “carrier” and the migrants would meet again at the arrival hall exit and then move together to leave the KLIA2 area.
“The “carrier” only used hand signals to the migrants to evade the authorities present in the KLIA2 area. This activity is believed to have been operating for the past three months.”
The Malaysian carrier was detained on suspicion of offences under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966m while those two foreign nationals were detained under Section 56(1A)(a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
All three were taken to the Immigration headquarters in Putrajaya for further action. Meanwhile, three Malaysian men and one Malaysian woman were issued notices to appear at the Immigration Department to assist with investigations linked to the operation.
