Selangor MMEA Thwarts Attempt To Smuggle 80 Indonesians

PORT KLANG, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- The Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 80 illegal immigrants after intercepting a pom-pom boat in the waters off Bagan Nakhoda Omar, Sabak Bernam, yesterday.

Its deputy director of operations Capt Mohd Fairusnizam Abdul Razak said the boat was stopped at around 3.30 am following intelligence gathered during Ops Ehsan and Ops Tanjung 2 Series 1/2026.

“The boat was intercepted approximately three nautical miles southwest of Sungai Air Tawar, Bagan Nakhoda Omar, before an individual believed to be the boat’s skipper jumped overboard and escaped,” he told a press conference at the Selangor MMEA headquarters here today.

Further inspection revealed that the pom-pom boat was carrying 80 Indonesians, comprising 49 men and 29 women aged between 14 and 60, as well as two male crew members, both in their 40s.

Mohd Fairusnizam added that the operation also led to the arrest of a 31-year-old Bangladeshi man with valid documents, believed to have returned to Malaysia following his marriage in Medan, Indonesia.

“Investigations found that each illegal immigrant had paid between RM1,500 and RM2,500, depending on the drop-off point.

“All the detainees are believed to have entered the country seeking employment, except for the Bangladeshi man, who was heading to Johor to work at a frozen food factory after two months of marriage leave,” he said.

He added that the syndicate is believed to operate from Batu Bara fishing jetty in Indonesia, and heading directly to Selangor waters without transit.

“Most syndicates normally use mid-sea transits with local fishing boats, but the boat intercepted early yesterday morning is believed to have been unable to do so thanks to MMEA’s swift action,” he said.

The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

-- BERNAMA