The immigration department of Malaysia had arrested 21 Bangladesh nationals in a raid against human trafficking in Maluri, Kuala Lumpur, reported Malaysian news agency Bernama on Sunday.
Malaysian authorities said that they had dismantled a human trafficking syndicate and detained 21 Bangladesh nationals on Thursday.
The immigration department director general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said three of the arrestees were believed to be key members of the syndicate.
The agency also confiscated 18 Bangladeshi passports, RM990 in cash, and a suspicious invitation letter for a sports competition, along with the event schedule.
鈥楾wo of the men apprehended had temporary employment visit passes, while the third had overstayed his visa. All three are aged between 21 and 33,鈥� the report quoted Datuk Zakaria Shaaban as saying.
The syndicate鈥檚 modus operandi involved bringing in foreigners, particularly from Bangladesh, and having them pose as athletes in sports attire to evade detection by authorities.
鈥楾hey also booked return flights to Bangladesh and rooms in budget hotels in Kuala Lumpur a day before the supposed match to deceive authorities,鈥� the immigration department director general was also quoted as saying.
According to the Bernama report, the syndicate reportedly charged between RM2,000 and RM5,000 per person and had been operating for the past four months.
All 21 detainees were taken to the Lenggeng Immigration Depot for suspected offences under different sections of the Malaysian Immigration Act, as well as the Immigration Regulations 1963 of the Southeast Asian country.
The agency, however, did not disclose any details of the arrestees.
Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur could not be reached for comment over the telephone even after repeated attempts on Sunday.
