Malaysian authorities have arrested 26 Bangladeshi nationals today at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1 (KLIA-1) for attempting to enter the country illegally, in what officials suspect to be a coordinated effort involving unknown third parties.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the agency said the group arrived on two separate flights from Dhaka and drew immediate attention from immigration officers due to suspicious behaviour at the international arrivals gate.
Their suspicious behaviour upon arrival at the international entry gate prompted immediate intervention by officers from the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKSEM), who escorted them to the agency’s operations office for further inspection.
They lacked travel itineraries, accommodation information, or proof of sufficient financial means, typical red flags in visa misuse cases, and had failed to provide valid documentation or reasonable justification for their entry into Malaysia, according to AKSEM.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the detainees, all of whom were holding tourist visas, failed to provide reasonable justification for their entry into Malaysia, according to AKSEM. Authorities noted that many individuals, including Bangladeshis, are misusing tourist visas to seek employment in Malaysia. As a result, they were denied entry and are now being processed for repatriation.
AKSEM emphasised that such attempts at illegal entry pose a serious threat to national security and public order. The agency added that its intelligence and enforcement teams remain on high alert at all times, particularly at major entry points like KLIA Terminals 1 and 2.
Malaysian authorities have increased surveillance and intelligence operations at airports and land border checkpoints to combat the growing trend of unlawful entry.