Tanah Merah detained 50 undocumented Myanmar nationals

In a search here on Tuesday (May 10) evening, police captured 50 undocumented Myanmar nationals who were hiding in a shophouse in Kampung Jelakong.

Two local men, 48 and 65, were also arrested at the premises during the operation, which was undertaken by a team from Tanah Merah police headquarters Criminal Investigation Department (CID) around 5.30pm, according to Tanah Merah OCPD Supt Wan Zulfikri Wan Othman.

"When inspected, a total of 43 Myanmar men and seven women, ranging in age from 18 to 45, were at the shop house and did not have any proper identification documents," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

He stated the migrants were smuggled into the country three days ago from their hiding near the Malaysia-Thailand border to work in Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan, Genting Highlands, and Cameron Highlands, and that they thought the shop house was a transit point before being transferred out of Kelantan.

"The two local males involved were later arrested under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) of 2007.

"Meanwhile, 50 Myanmar nationals were arrested for violating the Immigration Act of 1963 and transferred to the Tanah Merah police headquarters for further action, he said, adding that a four-wheel-drive vehicle used to transport the migrants had also been seized.