HUMAN TRAFFICKING : 40 MYANMAR REFUGEES RESCUED FROM WAREHOUSE

BUKIT KAYU HITAM: It was a sad sight when police rescued 40 Myanmar nationals, believed to be victims of a human trafficking syndicate, from an abandoned warehouse in Bukit Tangga here on Wednesday night.

Five children, who were among the foreigners rescued during the operation, were sleeping on the floor inside the dusty warehouse, located about 5km from the main road.

The children had only an old newspaper to use as their "mattress" when the raiding party, led by Inspector Mohd Nasrul Faiz from the state police's secret societies, gambling and vice (D7) division, raided the premises about 8pm.

A man, believed to be a member of the syndicate, managed to evade arrest as the police team arrived at the scene.

Initial checks showed the foreigners, including nine women, had been granted refugee status by the United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees.

It was learnt that the refugees had previously worked at a tomato farm in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, before they were sold to the syndicate, who in turn would supply them as workers to a fruit orchard.

State police D7 unit chief Assistant Superintendent Shaari Yaakob said preliminary investigations revealed the foreigners had been staying at the warehouse for about a month.

"We believe the warehouse was a transit point for the refugees."

Source:  New Straits Times

 

Police rescued 40 Myanmar refugees from a warehouse in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah last night. 

They were found caged and had been forced to work at a fruit farm without pay.

The 29 men, 9 women and five children were rescued in an operation dubbed Ops Pintas.

According to Kedah Gambling,Vice and Secret Societies chief ASP Shaari Yaacob the refugees were previously working at a tomato farm in Cameron Highlands before they were sold to the fruit farm owner.

He said the refugees had been deprived of proper meals, clean water and other basic needs.

They were sent to the Kubang Pasu district police headquarters and handed to the state UNHCR representative.

The case is being investigated under the Anti Human Trafficking and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

 

NTV 7