Armed syndicates make migrant-smuggling crackdown harder, says MMEA chief
KUALA LUMPUR: Syndicates smuggling illegal immigrants into the country are believed to be arming themselves with pistols and rifles to protect their operations and confront enforcement personnel attempting to foil their activities in Malaysian waters.
Malaysian maritime enforcement agencies face difficulties in combating illegal immigration due to armed syndicates smuggling migrants, according to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) chief. The MMEA director-general, Admiral (Maritime) Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah, stated that the syndicates are arming themselves with firearms, making their operations increasingly dangerous and difficult to control. This poses a threat to the safety of MMEA personnel during operations.
Last week, an MMEA personnel named Leading Seaman Mohd Roshaimi Mohd Ridzuan died when his boat collided with a concrete block while pursuing suspects in Sungai Padang, Perlis. The incident also injured three other MMEA personnel who fell into the water. Rosli emphasized that the agency will continue to prioritize personnel safety during operations and maintain a heightened vigilance in seizing illegal immigrants.
The agency has identified Perak, Selangor, Melaka, Johor, and Sabah as key areas for illegal immigrant landings due to their geographic features and strategic locations. The MMEA employs an intelligence-led enforcement approach, conducting patrols based on risk assessments and the latest information to detect and curtail smuggling attempts effectively.
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