SHAH ALAM: An Indonesian woman suspected of using TikTok to promote illegal immigration services, including arranging migrant movements through unauthorised routes, has been arrested following a month-long intelligence operation.
The 31-year-old woman was arrested at a residential premises in Section U15 here on Monday. She is believed to have operated as an illegal immigration agent for about a year.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation, which began at 10am, was carried out by officers from the department's Intelligence and Special Operations Division at its headquarters in Putrajaya.
"The operation was conducted following information received from the public," he said in a statement.
Zakaria said investigations revealed that the woman had used TikTok to advertise immigration-related services targeting Indonesians living in the Klang Valley.
These included arrangements under the Migrant Repatriation Programme, applications for Special Passes and facilitating migrants' entry and exit through ungazetted routes.
"The suspect was also believed to have offered assistance in obtaining emergency travel documents issued by the Indonesian Embassy.
"She charged between RM700 and RM3,000 for each service offered and is believed to have been operating for approximately a year," he said.
Zakaria said officers seized two Indonesian passports, a set of house keys, two mobile phones, a customer record book and RM4,000 in cash believed to be proceeds from the activities.
"Following questioning, enforcement officers proceeded to a courier company in Puncak Alam, where they seized a parcel containing another Indonesian passport sent by a customer to the suspect," he said.
He said the woman was detained for suspected offences under Sections 56(1)(l) and 56(1A)(a) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, as well as Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
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