Three Myanmar nationals were arrested after two of them were found in possession of suspected fake UNHCR cards during a roadblock at Lalang Pepuyu in Tanah Merah yesterday.
The suspects, aged between 21 and 28, were detained during Op Taring Wawasan Kelantan at about 9pm by personnel from Battalion 8 of the General Operations Force (PGA).
Briged Tenggara PGA commander Senior Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Radzi Hussain said officers stopped a suspicious Chevrolet Optra car during the operation and carried out a detailed inspection.
He said checks revealed that the 28-year-old driver held a valid UNHCR card, while two passengers were found with questionable documents believed to be fake.
The driver was detained for allegedly providing transport services to undocumented migrants under Section 55E of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
The two passengers are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the same Act for suspected use of forged travel documents.
Authorities also seized the vehicle, valued at about RM40,000, along with four mobile phones worth RM4,000 and three UNHCR cards.
Preliminary investigations showed the driver had entered Malaysia in 2019 via Langkawi before working as a construction labourer in Johor Bahru and later relocating to Kajang with his family.
The trio claimed they were travelling to visit a sick relative in Pasir Mas, but police later found the address provided did not exist.
All suspects and seized items have been handed over to the Tanah Merah district police headquarters for further investigation.
