19, including two immigration officers, held for human trafficking

KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested 19 people, including two immigration officers, who were in cahoots with a human trafficking syndicate that facilitated illegal journey for Sri Lankans to Switzerland using tampered Malaysian passports in a three-week operation.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the syndicate charged RM60,000 for each migrant seeking greener pastures in Geneva, Switzerland.
He said the syndicate was made up of Malaysians, Sri Lankans and Indians.
He said apart from the two immigration officers, among those detained were five Sri Lankan migrants and the syndicate's agents, runners and facilitators.
He said police learnt that the syndicate paid between RM1,000 and RM2,000 for genuine Malaysian international passports of local Indians whose facial features resemble the Sri Lankan migrants who intend to slip into a third country.
The syndicate made minor changes to the passports after tampering with it and initiated the travel process of the Sri Lankans.
Khalid said with the help of crooked immigration officers at KL International Airport (KLIA) who receive kickbacks of between RM150 and RM350 for each migrant, the ploy kicks off when the Sri Lankans arrive at the airport legally with Sri Lankan passports and return tickets as proof of their return to their country.
However, when the foreigners arrive at the KLIA's satellite building, the syndicate would hand them the tampered Malaysian passports, air tickets and boarding passes for a flight to Netherlands.
Khalid said subsequently, the Sri Lankans would take a connecting flight from Netherlands to Geneva where they remain to seek greener pastures.
He said the operation was carried out between April 12 and May 6 by the federal police Special Branch.
Khalid said the suspects are being detained under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and are being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom).