SEVEN IMMIGRATION STAFF, TWO FOREIGNERS DETAINED UNDER ISA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- Nine individuals of a syndicate, seven
Immigration Department staff and two foreigners have been detained under the ISA
for suspected involvement in human smuggling.

Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar said they were detained
between Oct 10 and 12 at various locations.

"Their detention is to enable more detailed investigations to be carried out
and put and end to the syndicate's human smuggling operations.

"Police view the syndicate's activities very seriously as they are a threat
to national and border security," he told reporters at Bukit Aman (federal
police headquarters) here Wednesday.

He added that besides internal security, the syndicate also posed a threat
to the security of neighbours, specifically involving other crimes like
terrorism, arms and drug smuggling.

Ismail, however, would not reveal the identities of those detained.
According to a source, all those detained were aged btween 20 and 50, with
one of them a Pakistani.

-- BERNAMA