KUALA LUMPUR: Three organised human trafficking syndicates were crippled and 55 victims of forced labour, sexual exploitation and job scam rackets were rescued in 2025, says Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He said the Home Ministry is stepping up efforts to combat human trafficking through tighter controls at the country’s entry points, with coordinated operations by the police, Immigration Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Border Control and Protection Agency. Saifuddin said a total of 145 human trafficking cases were investigated last year, involving 274 arrests and 477 rescued victims. On errant officers, he said the government would not tolerate any enforcement personnel found to be negligent or colluding with syndicates. He was responding to Aminolhuda Hassan (PH–Sri Gading), who asked about the ministry’s achievements in crippling human trafficking syndicates, particularly at the country’s entry points, and action taken against officers involved or negligent in allowing such syndicates to operate.

Source: The Star February 05, 2026 14:39 UTC