Malaysian policemen arrested over drug, migrant worker smuggling
- A group of police officers and soldiers were accused of colluding with smugglers for a payment of up to US$235 per month
- The arrest of the 18 men followed the detention of 40 alleged smugglers on June 4, authorities said
The group is accused of being part of an “organised crime syndicate” that “involves many parties”, said police in Johor, a southern region bordering Singapore.
Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay told journalists the alleged collusion spanned three years and entailed police officers and soldiers being paid up to 1,000 ringgit (US$235) per month by smugglers.
“Eighteen officers and personnel of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) and Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) were detained on suspicion of being involved in migrant and drug smuggling syndicates on the East Coast of Johor since three years ago,” Pitchay said.
“All of them are men, aged from 24 to 41 years old, detained by the Johor CID through follow-up operations from June 15 until today,” he said.
The arrests of the soldiers and police followed the detention of 40 alleged smugglers on June 4, Pitchay added.
Hailing from countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia and Myanmar, many migrant workers are drawn to Malaysia to carry out factory or plantation jobs.
Announcing the arrest of 11 alleged people smugglers on June 10, police in Pahang in central Malaysia cited a “high demand” locally for low-paid foreign workers.
Some undocumented workers enter Malaysia clandestinely, often paying hefty fees to smuggling gangs that leave them in debt bondage. Police in Malaysia regularly arrest migrants found to be working illegally.
Malaysia has so far confirmed more than 8,520 coronavirus cases and 121 related deaths.
