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BUKIT KAYU HITAM: The Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) detained 11 Thais for migrant smuggling and lacking valid travel documents at the Bukit Kayu Hitam customs, immigration, quarantine and security complex here on Saturday.

Its commander, Fauzi Yusof, said all of them, who were in three Thai-registered vans, were found behaving suspiciously in one of the bus lanes at the complex around 11.30pm.

“An inspection of all three vehicles found that seven Thai nationals did not possess valid travel documents. They were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

“Meanwhile, four Thai men who possessed valid documents were detained for investigation under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007,” he said in a statement.

AKPS seized the three vans along with four cats found in the vehicles, which were handed to the quarantine and inspection services department.

All 11 detainees are believed to be from a welfare centre in the Pha-ngan region in Thailand and were heading to the south of the country.

“They have been remanded for two weeks until April 18 and are being detained at the Belantik immigration depot in Sik for further investigations.”