PASIR PUTEH: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 37 undocumented Myanmar nationals and a local man suspected of acting as a land transporter near the banks of the Kelantan River close to Kampung Cina, Kota Bharu.
Kelantan Maritime Director Maritime Captain Kamal Mohamad said a patrol boat spotted a suspicious speedboat in Kuala Besar waters at around 5.20am. The boat managed to escape through a narrow, shallow river route, prompting a land team to intercept the group near the riverbank, where all 38 individuals were detained.
Those arrested comprised 25 men, 11 women and a six-month-old baby boy, while the local suspect is 40 years old. The adult Myanmar nationals were aged between 15 and 41. Seven had passports but could not produce valid travel records, while another had no identification documents.
Authorities said this was the largest arrest recorded by Kelantan Maritime this year based on intelligence information. The local man is being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, while the Myanmar nationals are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
A urine test on the local suspect also returned positive for methamphetamine, and further legal action will be taken accordingly.
