ALOR SETAR: Police have crippled five migrant smuggling syndicates operating in Kedah with the arrest of 12 local and Myanmar agents through Ops Pintas, held from Aug 15 to Sept 7.
State police chief Fisol Salleh said 47 Myanmar migrants, aged between 15 and 50, were also detained during the operation.
They were smuggled into the country through sea and land routes in the Langkawi and Kubang Pasu districts.
“These syndicate groups are unrelated. However, they share a common modus operandi, which involves smuggling migrants into the country through sea and land routes.
“They also collaborate with syndicate agents in Yangon, Myanmar.”
Fisol said these migrants had been promised job opportunities in various economic sectors in the country.
They were required to pay between RM5,000 and RM7,000 each to the syndicate agents, he added.
Fisol said police had met with the Kedah National Security Council to address the issue of migrant infiltration along the national borders.
“Immediate action must be taken at the fenced land and maritime borders.”
Fisol said Langkawi was a transit point, with migrants travelling to Kuala Kedah or Kuala Perlis.