Malaysia Police on Sunday, August 6, picked
up a total of 409 foreigners including
Nigerians and busted a passport-forging
syndicate masterminded by a Pakistani man
in the first large-scale joint operation led by
Bukit Aman Special Branch Counter
Terrorism Division.
About 200 law enforcement officers hit the
streets to nab foreigners linked to
international terror groups, those without
valid documents and those suspected of
illegal activities.
Public buses were also stopped for checks
and in one instance, a Nigerian man ran so
fast to escape that bystanders commented
that he was faster than Usain Bolt. However,
Police personnel managed to catch him,
although it took five of them to overpower
him. (As seen in the picture and video)
Counter Terrorism Division head, Deputy
Commissioner Datuk Ayob Khan, later
confirmed that the operation was held as
part of preparations for the 2017 SEA
Games, which starts on Aug 19.
Concentrating on the city centre around
Jalan Masjid India, security personnel in full
tactical gear were not only armed but also
equipped with radionuclide identification
devices (RID) to detect radioactive material.
Counter Terrorism Division officers, along
with their comrades from other units such
as the Special Action Unit, General
Operations Force Tiger Platoon and Traffic
Investigation and Enforcement Department,
took part.
Other agencies involved were the
Immigration Department, Atomic Energy
Licensing Board, National Registration
Department and Interpol.
In a raid on the Menara City One
condominium in Jalan Munshi Abdullah,
multiple enforcement teams made their way
from the top and lowest floors
simultaneously, with armed officers at
stairwells to block escape routes.
Most residents cooperated when the
authorities came knocking, with documents
in hand for verification. Those who ignored
the knocks soon had their doors and locks
broken. Some units where the occupants
refused to cooperate were found to be full
of foreigners with incomplete papers or
none at all.
Police also detected fake passport-makers
and seized some RM54,000 (S$17,154) along
with 70 passports, including 67 Indian
passports, and a machine used to forge
immigration stickers.
Resident Annuar Amin, 43, said he was
shocked to see dozens of suspects tied up
at the apartment courtyard as they awaited
processing.
“I was about to go back upstairs, but I saw
people being rounded up,” he said. “Then I
heard loud noises, so I decided to just wait
below until everything was over.”
Deputy Commissioner Ayob said the 409
foreigners detained were brought back to
the police headquarters for further
screening.
“They were from Bangladesh, India,
Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia, Myanmar, Oman,
Yemen and Nigeria, among others,” he said.
“We held those suspected of being involved
in terrorism activities. The others were
handed over to Immigration for offences
under their jurisdiction
(The op) is focused on the Klang Valley. Our
top goal is to nab foreign terrorist elements.
“We are being proactive in dealing with
possible threats.”
Deputy Commissioner Ayob also said the
operation did not detect any radioactive
material, but his division will continue to use
RID in future operations.
“Given that terrorists are becoming more
creative in using radioactive devices, we
have to be equipped with the right tools,”
he said.
