The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has reactivated Op Khas Pagar Laut in the country’s waters to curb and combat various cross-border crimes during the Aidilfitri festive season.
Bernama quoted MMEA deputy director-general (Logistics) Rear Admiral (M) Saiful Lizan Ibrahim who said the operation series 1/2023 will be held from tomorrow until April 30.
“Criminals will probably think that law enforcement during the festive season will be somewhat lax as most security personnel will be on leave and celebrating the festival.
“So, they will try to take this opportunity to engage in criminal activities such as smuggling in undocumented migrants, contraband, as well as controlled items, invasion, and other crimes via the sea,” he reportedly said after launching Op Khas Pagar Laut in George Town, Penang, today.
Further, Saiful said MMEA will tighten control and optimise operations in hotspot locations, especially at the borders of Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia.
He said 800 enforcement officers and personnel with 45 assets will be involved in routine patrols and enforcement in the country’s waters.
“The MMEA is also ready to deploy relevant assets to carry out search and rescue tasks if needed,” he said.
‘Gateway for migrant smuggling’
Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD, has reiterated his government’s commitment to take down human trafficking syndicates.
On Thursday (April 6), he said the Riau Islands, especially Batam, are used as a gateway for smuggling Indonesian migrant workers abroad.
Mahfud in an Instagram post identified Batam, the largest city within the Riau Islands province that borders Malaysia and Singapore, as being a “hot spot” for migrant smuggling syndicates that also involved government officials, security forces, and the private sector.
“The human trafficking syndicate and network in Batam does not involve the ordinary public because it is well coordinated.
“There is the involvement of individuals from the government and the private sector,” said Mahfud who also heads Indonesia’s Human Trafficking Prevention and Handling Task Force.
He noted that the high-level collusion between syndicates and officials has seen trafficking victims leaving Batam through both irregular means as well as official exit points.
Travellers who take the ferry from Batam will exit from the Batam International Ferry Terminal and enter Malaysia through the official immigration checkpoints at Stulang Laut International Ferry Terminal.
When contacted, Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia, Hermono, said the largest number of trafficking victims from Indonesia were found in Malaysia.
“Malaysia is also often used as a transit point for victims to be sent to other countries, for example, the Middle East.
“This of course is closely tied to the countries’ geographical position with both land and sea borders,” he told Malaysiakini. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.