KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has dismantled a syndicate involved in smuggling foreign nationals, including those from Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and Nepal, into the country through entry points believed to bypass official inspections.
The syndicate is suspected to have been facilitated by several enforcement officers from an agency stationed at the country's entry points, acting as informants to allow groups of foreign nationals to enter without undergoing the required procedures.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the syndicate's activities were uncovered following the arrest of 12 people, comprising nine men and three women aged between 20 and 50, during Op Pump conducted by the graftbusters around the Klang Valley, Penang, and Kelantan today.
He said that those arrested included four company owners and three civilians who are believed to have played roles in managing the entry of these foreign nationals, as well as five enforcement officers stationed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 2.
"These arrests were made following MACC's intelligence operations since 2022 into the activities of this syndicate, which colluded with officers from an enforcement agency.
"The syndicate is believed to have profited millions of ringgit, and investigations have detected the entry of funds amounting to over RM4 million from 2022 to 2024, believed to be related to the facilitation of foreign nationals' entry, with a portion of the funds being distributed among the involved enforcement officers," he said.
Azam said the syndicate's modus operandi involved 'counter setting', where they collaborated with enforcement officers at the country's entry points who were stationed at specific counters to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals.
He also said the group of foreign nationals wishing to enter the country would contact an agent responsible for managing their flight tickets and dealings with the involved enforcement officers.
"The agent would provide information about the group of foreign nationals to the enforcement officers waiting at specific counters, while at the same time, informing the foreign nationals to approach the designated counter upon their arrival in the country, enabling them to be released without undergoing the necessary inspections.
"Once they pass through the special counter, the group of foreign nationals would be picked up by the agent's representative, who would then transport them to specific destinations," he said.
These foreign nationals were supposed to undergo inspections in accordance with Immigration Circular No. 4, 2021, which requires them to present a valid passport or documentation, hold a visa, have a valid return ticket, possess sufficient funds for their stay, and provide the address of their accommodation or hotel booking.
However, through this special counter, they were granted passage without the necessary inspections.
Azam added that all suspects will be brought to the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court tomorrow for remand application proceedings.