THE Immigration Department has arrested five people, including two Immigration officers, for smuggling illegal immigrants, during an undercover operation at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on December 9.

Immigration Department director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud in a statement released today said five suspects, aged between 31 and 49 were detained, including two Immigration officers who are believed to have colluded with the group.

“The five who were detained comprised two Indonesian women who had just arrived, an Indonesian man believed to be the agent, and two Immigration officers, and the agent to facilitate the entry process,” he said.

He said the group would allow the agent to make arrangements for the immigration officer at the counter to stamp entry papers for blacklisted immigrants for a fee of between RM1,000 and RM2,000 per person.

The immigrants are later accompanied by the agent to their intended place of employment to work but there will be no record of their entry in the immigration department’s system.

Khairul said the two Immigration officers and the agent were detained for investigations under the Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, while the two women will be investigated under section 6(3) Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155).

He said the Immigration officers were remanded for seven days starting December 10, while all the foreign nationals were taken to the Putrajaya Immigration office.

“We will continue to curb human trafficking and entry of illegal immigrants. We will not compromise such offences even if it involves Immigration officers,” he said. – Bernama, December 13, 2022.