POLICE BUST HUMAN TRAFFICKING SYNDICATE AND RESCUE NINE WOMEN

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysian police, working closely with the
Australian Federal Police, have succeeded in busting a human trafficking
syndicate that has been using Malaysia as a transit.

At 1am Thursday, police raided a house in a residential estate here and
arrested a couple aged 44 and 55 before rescuing nine women, comprising eight
Malaysians and a Chinese national.

Police Headquarters (Bukit Aman) CID deputy director I (intelligence and
operations) Hadi Ho Abdullah said the couple were directly involved in
'exporting' locals and foreigners to Asian countries and Australia for
prostitution, under the pretext of seeking employment.

"The syndicate, raking in about RM2 million (US$589,961) through their
operations, normally lured young good looking women (locals and foreigners) to
work as prostitutes in foreign countries.

"They (syndicate) will arrange the passport and false student visas for the
women before sending them abroad for prostitution," he told reporters here
Thursday.

Hadi Ho said police believed most of the women were duped by lucrative wage
offers promised by the syndicate.

Asked if the Immigration Department personal or officers were involved, Hadi
Ho said police are carrying out investigations and working closely with the
Immigration Department.

"We will continue to hunt down those involved with the syndicate like
runners, those who print the passports, etc," he said.
-- BERNAMA