Cops net 111 migrant smugglers from three gangs, arrest 24 enforcement personnel
The police had crippled three gangs who were active in smuggling migrants by arresting 111 gang members in a series of operations over three states.
They were known as the "Otong Gang" in Johor, the "Halim Gang" in Perak, and a Rohingya gang known as "Husen Maungdaw" in Penang.
The arrested members consisted of...
The police had crippled three gangs who were active in smuggling migrants by arresting 111 gang members in a series of operations over three states.
They were known as the "Otong Gang" in Johor, the "Halim Gang" in Perak, and a Rohingya gang known as "Husen Maungdaw" in Penang.
The arrested members consisted of 57 individuals from Otong, 35 from Halim, and 19 from Husen Maungdaw.
Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director Huzir Mohamed said the suspects, aged between 28 and 68, were hauled up in operations between June 4 and June 20.
They were nabbed for committing crimes under Section 130V of the penal code for being members of an organised criminal group, and were investigated under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).
Huzir said the Otong Gang has been active since 2014 by smuggling migrants and was led by an Indonesian man known as Otong.
The Halim Gang, whose leader was known as Halim, has been active since 2017.
The Husen Maungdaw gang consisted of Rohingyas who smuggled other Rohingyans into the country and were also active in gang robberies which targeted Rohingya migrants in Penang since 2014, Huzir said.
"The gang members of the Husen Maungdaw gang were detained and charged several times but the gang remained active and their members had increased," he said.
Those arrested will be simultaneously charged at various session courts in Johor Bahru, Ipoh, and Georgetown, on July 2.
Meanwhile, Huzir (above) said the police also picked up 24 enforcement personnel who were believed to have been in cahoots with the gangs.
In Johor, the police arrested 14 cops and five army personnel. In Perak, three cops were arrested, while in Penang, they picked up two immigration personnel.
They were arrested under Sosma.
Huzir said the operations against migrant smugglers were being intensified to protect the national border and to curb the Covid-19 outbreak caused by imported cases.
