Human smuggling chief held

[Orochi]

Singapore
Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Jan 28, 2010

Human smuggling chief held

<!-- by line --> By Sujin Thomas

A 43-YEAR-OLD Malaysian suspected of being the leader of a human smuggling syndicate was arrested on Wednesday at a fishing village in Kampung Sungai Melayu in Western Johor. Police Coast Guard commander Teo Kian Teck said: 'Royal Malaysian Police officers raided the house he was staying in in the wee hours of the morning.' His arrest - the third of a syndicate leader in the past nine months - came after a warrant for his arrest was issued by the Singapore authorities last July. He was extradited here on Wednesday evening and will appear in court on Friday. If convicted, he faces up to five years jail, and caning. He is believed to have been smuggling illegal immigrants into Singapore since 2003. While it is unclear how many people he helped smuggle, the illegal immigrants were mainly Chinese, Bangladeshi and Indian nationals.

 

[Yoshitsune Minamoto]

Human smuggling head nabbed

Singapore
Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story
Jan 29, 2010

Human smuggling head nabbed

Malaysian, 43, believed to have been smuggling people in since 2003

<!-- by line --> By Sujin Thomas
<!-- end by line -->
<!--background story, collapse if none--> Illegal immigrants are offered a package between $1,300 and $3,000, depending on whether they prefer a 'wet' or 'dry' landing. The cheaper option meant the illegal immigrant would have to swim a distance before reaching the shore.

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Chinese nationals were found under the rear seats of two cars, allegedly trying to sneak into Singapore. Police have arrested a suspect believed to be involved in smuggling illegal immigrants to Singapore since 2003. -- PHOTO: ICA

<!-- story content : start --> HUMAN smuggling syndicates are behind a recent rise in the number of those trying to sneak into Singapore through the narrow Strait of Johor between Singapore and Malaysia. The Police Coast Guard (PCG) nabbed 49 such illegal immigrants last year - up from 40 the year before. In the process, the PCG officers also thwarted 23 attempts by the syndicates to ferry them across - nearly double the 12 attempts in 2008. The latest figures from the police on Thursday came in the wake of the arrest of a syndicate leader in Malaysia on Wednesday. The suspect, a 43-year-old Malaysian, was extradited here on Wednesday evening and will be brought to court on Friday. His capture came after a warrant of arrest was issued against him here last July. He is believed to have been involved in the smuggling of illegal immigrants into Singapore since 2003. PCG commander Teo Kian Teck told reporters on Thursday that the man was the third syndicate leader caught in the last nine months.

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.

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