KUCHING: Sarawak police believe that at least 51 Sarawakians, who are victims of a human trafficking syndicate, are still stranded in Myanmar.
Outgoing Police Commissioner Datuk Mohd Azman Ahmad Sapri said as of September this year, police have received reports indicating that 30 individuals have been successfully repatriated.
“Based on records from the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) D3 Branch (Atipsom), there are a total of 81 Sarawakians who were initially stranded in Myanmar.
“However, some of them have been successfully reunited with their families, and as of now, approximately 51 Sarawakians are still facing the challenging situation in Myanmar,” he told the media at the Sarawak Police Contingent Headquarters here on today (Nov 9).
Comm Mohd Azman added that they have received a total of 52 reports involving Sarawakians (stranded in Myanmar) and the reports are from various districts – Kuching, Sibu, Miri, Bintulu and others.
These reports were filed by the families of the victims, who had been contacted by their stranded children or relatives in Myanmar.
“All these victims found themselves stranded in Myanmar after falling prey to the deceptive promises of the syndicate.
“The syndicate had enticed them with offers of lucrative jobs in casino centres and hotels, with salaries paid in USD currency.
“However, upon their arrival in Myanmar, their experiences did not align with the promises made.”
Comm Mohd Azman stated that all reports received by the contingent, are promptly referred to the Bukit Aman CID D3 Branch (Atipsom) for further investigation and follow-up actions.
