Migrant smuggler's 15-trip run ends with arrest in Kelantan
TUMPAT: A 31-year-old migrant smuggler, known as "Fakri", allegedly earned lucrative sums ferrying undocumented migrants, making 15 trips since June before his activities ended with his arrest early today.
TUMPAT: A 31-year-old migrant smuggler, identified as Fakri, was arrested early today after completing 15 smuggling trips since June. The divorced father of a 10-month-old child was apprehended while transporting five undocumented Bangladeshi migrants in a Proton Wira in Pendek, Kota Baru. Fakri claimed to charge between RM50 and RM6,000 per migrant, depending on the journey's distance.
He reportedly earned RM300 for each migrant within Kelantan and RM600 or more for trips outside the state. Fakri's smuggling activities concluded when he was apprehended by the General Operations Force (GOF). During a search of his Proton Wira during Operation Taring Wawasan Kelantan in Pendek, the vehicle was found to contain the five Bangladeshi men, aged 19 to 47, who lacked valid identification or travel documents.
GOF Southeast Brigade commander, Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad, revealed that Fakri charged between RM50 and RM6,000 per migrant, based on their destination. Initial investigations showed that Fakri received payments in cash from agents in Thailand after each delivery. The suspect admitted to providing payment in cash to a male and female agent in Thailand after the migrants arrived in Malaysia.
Ahmad also noted that the suspect tested positive for drugs and had a prior record under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. He added that Fakri and the five migrants were taken to the Kota Baru district police station for further investigation.
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