Kota bharu: A local man suspected of being a ground handler, known as a tekong darat, was apprehended along with 37 illegal immigrants from Myanmar, including a baby boy, during an operation by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) near Kampung Cina, Kota Bharu.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kelantan MMEA director Maritime Captain Kamal Mohamad stated that the arrest marked the largest capture of its kind this year. The operation followed intelligence reports about illegal immigrant smuggling activities along unauthorized routes. An MMEA patrol boat, conducting operations such as Op Naga, Op Damai, Pelantar Merah, and Op Tiris, noticed a speedboat moving without lights and acting suspiciously in the Kuala Besar waters at around 5.20 am.
The speedboat managed to evade capture by navigating into a narrow and shallow river route, with darkness complicating the patrol boat's pursuit efforts. However, the Land Operations team was later dispatched to the banks of Sungai Kelantan, successfully intercepting the group and detaining the 38 individuals.
The 37 Myanmar nationals included 25 men, 11 women, and a baby boy approximately six months old. The adults ranged in age from 15 to 41, while the local man was identified as 40 years old. Checks revealed that seven of the Myanmar nationals possessed passports but lacked valid travel records for entry into Malaysia, and one individual had no identification documents.
An initial urine screening showed that the local man tested positive for methamphetamine. He is currently under investigation under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 for suspected involvement in smuggling activities. Authorities are also considering action under relevant drug laws.
The Myanmar nationals are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for allegedly entering and remaining in Malaysia without valid documents and travel records. Kamal emphasized that the MMEA will continue to bolster patrols and enforcement operations in Kelantan waters to combat cross-border criminal activities, including migrant smuggling. He urged the public to report any suspicious activities via the 999 emergency line or the Kelantan MMEA Headquarters Operations Centre at 09-778 0070.