POLICE, under Op Benteng, have detained 372 skippers involved in smuggling illegal immigrants into the country.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said 80 investigation papers have been sent to the deputy public prosecutor’s office for further action.

“These 80 people will be charged soon,” he said after witnessing the handover of duties for the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director at Bukit Aman today.

CCID deputy director Saiful Azly Kamaruddin takes over as acting director from Mohd Zakaria Ahmad, who has gone on mandatory retirement.

Op Benteng was activated last month under the National Task Force in collaboration with the armed forces, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Health Ministry, Civil Defence Force, Immigration Department and Rela.

On the arrest of three Immigration Department officers suspected of involvement in the smuggling of foreigners in Johor, Hamid said police will investigate the case from every angle.

The trio, one of whom is a senior officer, were arrested at the Pasir Gudang ferry terminal on Tuesday. – Bernama, June 26, 2020.