Malaysia foils smuggling of 131 Sri Lankan immigrants

Illegal migrants are seen on a rusty tanker that Malaysian police have intercepted near Kota Tinggi in Johor state, Malaysia. The ship was carrying 131 Sri Lankans believed bound for Australia and New Zealand. (Royal Malaysia Police via AP)

Malaysian police have intercepted this rusty tankernear Kota Tinggi in Johor state, Malaysia on May 5, 2018 as it tried to smuggle 131 Sri Lankans believed bound for Australia and New Zealand. (Royal Malaysia Police via AP)

• Malaysian police impound modified tanker found carrying Sri Lankans believed bound for Australia and New Zealand
• Police believe a large human smuggling ring is behind the trafficking of migrants within the region

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian police have intercepted a tanker with 131 Sri Lankans believed bound for Australia and New Zealand, smashing a large human smuggling ring that has been operating for over a year.
Authorities halted the modified tanker on Tuesday off the coast of southern Johor state, national police chief Mohamad Fuzi Harun said in a statement Saturday.
He said the immigrants included 98 men, 24 women, four boys and five girls.
Police also raided a fishing boat used to transport the migrants to the vessel and detained three Indonesians and four Malaysians on board, he said. Another five Malaysians were nabbed for suspected involving in the smuggling syndicate.
“This syndicate has been operating since mid-2017 and has international connections across Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and Malaysia,” Fuzi said.
A total of 127 Sri Lankans will be charged for entering Malaysia illegally while nine Malaysians, four Indonesians and four Sri Lankans will be investigated for human smuggling, he added.