T
Toshiie Maeda
Guest
Friday February 11, 2011
Three syndicate members nabbed
PUTRAJAYA: Police have apprehended two Malaysians and an Indonesian believed to be heading a syndicate involved in cross-border criminal activities, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
He said police caught them on Wednesday following a breakthrough in investigation into nine immigration officers being held under the Internal Security Act.
Information gathered from several of the immigration officers led police to the three suspects, he said. He said the suspects, who are in their 40s, were believed to be involved in drug and people smuggling and other violent crimes in Malaysia.
“Investigations are being conducted to ascertain the extent of their activities because when it involves people smuggling, we cannot be sure who they brought in,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Hishammuddin had earlier receive a courtesy call from Ward Elcock, the Special Advisor on People Smuggling and Illegal Immigrants to the Canadian Prime Minister, and Canadian High Commissioner to Malaysia Randolph Mank.
The meeting discussed collaborations between the two countries in intelligence sharing, training and joint efforts to upgrade capabilities to combat problems like people smuggling and the illegal movement of people.
On the nine immigration officers being held under the ISA, Hishammuddin said some of them would be released soon while the others would be charged in court for various offences.
