JOHOR BARU, Feb 27 — The Johor Immigration Department detained an Indian national for suspected forgery of travel documents and human trafficking at Taman Daya near here, last night.

The 6P Ops chief coordinator Masri Adul said another seven Indian nationals were also detained at a hotel in Taman Daya, believed to be the man’s victims. 

“All the detained men claimed that the man, in his 30s, was the agent who booked their stay in the hotel and promised to handle their travel documents and work permits,” he told reporters here today.  

Masri said the man was suspected of being part of a syndicate which has cheated more than 1,000 victims over a one-year period.

“This is the first arrest since the Special Investigation Unit was set up a month ago. The unit not only focuses on the public but also our own officers in efforts to curb such activities,” he said.

The suspect has been detained under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. — Bernama