KUALA LUMPUR, August 20 — Police have dismantled a suspected foreign child trafficking syndicate accused of exploiting 17 Jordanian children by forcing them to beg in some of Kuala Lumpur’s busiest tourist and commercial areas.
The children, comprising eight boys and nine girls aged between three months and 14 years, were rescued during Op Pintas Kasih, which was launched on August 19.
The operation targeted a suspected lucrative network operating mainly along the five-foot ways around Bukit Bintang and Chow Kit, where children were allegedly used to solicit money from members of the public.
The coordinated operation involved officers from the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID), including the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Division (D3), as well as the D6 and D7 units.
Police conducted 13 simultaneous raids, with seven carried out at public walkways and another six at residential premises allegedly used by the syndicate.
Initial investigations found that the operation could generate between RM500 and RM1,000 a day, highlighting the scale of the alleged exploitation.
Police believe the network was organised and masterminded by Jordanian nationals who had entered Malaysia legally using 90-day social visit passes.
During the raids, police arrested 15 Jordanian adults, comprising seven men and eight women aged between 21 and 49.
However, five of those detained were unable to produce valid travel documents.
Authorities are also investigating whether there are family relationships between the rescued children and the adults suspected of controlling or exploiting them.
Police seized 32 Jordanian passports, 14 mobile phones and four strollers believed to have been used during the begging activities.
Cash in several currencies amounting to more than RM25,000 was also seized during the operation.
The suspects are being investigated under several laws, including Section 14 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, which carries a penalty of up to life imprisonment.
Investigations are also being conducted under the Child Act 2001 for offences involving the use of children for begging, as well as provisions under the Immigration Act relating to illegal entry and misuse of social visit passes.
Federal CID director CP Datuk M. Kumar said the Royal Malaysia Police maintained a zero-tolerance policy towards the exploitation of children and vulnerable individuals for financial gain.
He said police would continue strengthening intelligence-led operations to identify and dismantle trafficking networks at their source.
The public has also been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities involving children or vulnerable individuals to the authorities.
The rescue highlights ongoing concerns over organised begging networks in Kuala Lumpur and the exploitation of children for financial profit.
–malaymail
