Police detain alleged masterminds and seize vehicle in sea smuggling plot
Malaysian police have dismantled a migrant smuggling operation in Perak, arresting 36 individuals, including two suspected masterminds, in coordinated raids across Bagan Datuk.
Coordinated Raids Across Two Locations
The arrests followed operations led by the Criminal Investigation Division and Special Branch of the Bagan Datuk district police headquarters. Raids were conducted at a palm oil plantation and in Kampung Sungai Payung around Selekoh.
Perak police chief Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin confirmed that the first raid resulted in the detention of 25 men and four women aged between 18 and 55.
Migrants Allegedly Preparing Sea Escape
Among those arrested were 21 Indonesian men, four Bangladeshi men, and four Indonesian women. Police said they were allegedly preparing to be smuggled back to Indonesia by sea.
A 44-year-old Indonesian land agent was arrested at the plantation site. Authorities also detained another Indonesian man, believed to be a land transporter, at a hotel in Hutan Melintang.
Vehicle Seized And Roles Identified
Police seized a Honda City believed to have been used in the operation. Noor Hisam said both suspected masterminds were responsible for arranging food and transportation for the migrants.
The structured logistics suggest an organized attempt to facilitate illegal cross-border movement.
Second Raid Yields Additional Arrests
A second raid at 8.56am in Kampung Sungai Payung led to the arrest of five more Indonesians, comprising two men and three women aged between 20 and 36.
The arrests brought the total number of detainees to 36 across the two operations.
Remand And Legal Proceedings
The alleged land agent and transporter have been remanded for 28 days until March 13 under Section 4(5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.
The remaining migrants were remanded for 14 days under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959, as amended in 2002.
Multiple Laws Invoked
The case is being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, as well as Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Authorities said enforcement efforts will continue to target smuggling syndicates that exploit vulnerable migrants and undermine border security.
The Bagan Datuk raids highlight Malaysia’s ongoing crackdown on migrant smuggling networks operating along coastal routes. With Indonesian and Bangladeshi nationals involved, the case underscores the cross-border dimension of irregular migration in Southeast Asia. For Indonesians and Singaporeans monitoring regional security trends, the arrests reflect intensified law enforcement efforts to curb human smuggling and strengthen border controls.
Sources: Malay Mail (2026) , Bernama (2026)
Keywords: Noor Hisam Nordin, Anti Trafficking Act 2007, Immigration Act 1959, Security Offences Act 2012, Indonesian Migrants
