MMEA intercepts 16 Myanmar migrants, including five women, in a riverine smuggling operation in Kota Bharu, arresting a local transporter.

PASIR PUTEH: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) thwarted an attempt to smuggle 16 Myanmar migrants via a river route in Kota Bharu.

The individuals, including five women, were arrested during an early morning operation on Friday.

Kelantan MMEA director Maritime Captain Kamal Mohamad said all were detained at Sungai Kampung Kijang. A speedboat carrying them was initially spotted five nautical miles offshore.

MMEA teams conducting multiple operations chased the boat after observing suspicious activity. The vessel escaped by speeding into a narrow and shallow river.

Darkness hindered patrol boats from approaching, prompting the deployment of a land team to intercept the group. The search led to the arrest of 16 individuals aged between 16 and 51 along the riverbank.

A 36-year-old local man was also arrested on suspicion of transporting the migrants by land. Preliminary investigations found the foreigners had previously worked in restaurants, eateries, and construction across Malaysia.

They were allegedly being smuggled by syndicates to a neighbouring nation. The migrants stated they were charged RM3,500 each to return to Myanmar.

The land transporter reportedly earned RM250 per trip. All suspects were taken to the Kelantan Maritime Headquarters for further investigation.

They are being probed under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and the Immigration Act 1959/63. The offences relate to migrant smuggling and lacking valid travel documents.

 The Sun Malaysia