JOHOR police detained 11 skippers, two “migrant transporters” and 79 migrants in Johor Baru and Kota Tinggi between Saturday and yesterday.

Johor top cop Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said a 21-month-old girl is among the 92 individuals.

The operation was conducted with help from Region Two marine police.

“On Saturday, marine police detained four skippers and 15 migrants in Sg Rengit, Kota Tinggi, as they were attempting to leave for Indonesia. Police then arrested two skippers and a migrant in the waters nearby.

“The six skippers and 16 migrants are Indonesian men aged between 21 and 45,” he told reporters in the state capital today.

He said Monday saw the arrest of 21 Bangladeshis and a bus driver, believed to be a migrant transporter, in Tg Kupang, Iskandar Puteri, while eight Indonesians were nabbed the next day in a raid in Kg Tg Adang and Taman Desa Paya Mengkuang, also in Iskandar Puteri.

Police seized three boats, five 40-horsepower engines, 28 mobile phones, a car, a bus and RM8,048.90 in foreign currency.

All the suspects will be investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act, and Sections 5(2), 6(1)(C) and 55E(2) of the Immigration Act. – Bernama, July 23, 2020.