MARINE police have arrested the captain of a boat and two crew – suspected of smuggling people from Tanjung Balai, Indonesia, to Selangor – in the waters off Sungai Buloh, Kuala Selangor 

The commander of the Penang Region 1 marine police force, Shamsol Kassim, said his men also apprehended 22 Indonesians, who paid the gang to make the crossing.

“Acting on information, at 6.30am yesterday, a marine police team using two patrol boats PGR 29 and Spear 2 raided a boat, which was carrying people intending to enter Malaysia via an ungazetted sea route.

“In the chase, the boat involved was intercepted by the marine police before 25 Indonesians including the boat skipper and his assistants were arrested,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Shamsol said police did not find valid documents on any of the passengers, who were taken to the marine police base for processing.

He added that several agents were involved in the smuggling activities in Tanjung Balai, Indonesia.

The undocumented migrants were charged between IR4-5 million (RM1,200-1,500) to enter Malaysia.

“The payment was made in Tanjung Balai before they embarked for Malaysia,” he said, adding that all those detained were handed over to Kuala Selangor CID for further action, in accordance with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and the Immigration Act 1959/63. – February 13, 2022.