Six charged with smuggling 10 Bangladeshi migrants

Six individuals, including two Thai nationals and two women, have been charged in the Kota Bharu Sessions Court with the smuggling of 10 undocumented Bangladeshi migrants. The alleged crime took place in a house in Machang, Kelantan, during June 2026.

The accused, identified as Muhammad Arif Abd. Halim, 22; Mohamad Hazran Mohd. Daud, 34; Mohd. Shamsuri Yusoff, 45; Norazalina Mohamad, 40; Nur Aliya Natasya Abdul Rahman, 20; and Muhamad Amirul Aileh, 30, a Thai national, entered no plea. The court determined that cases of migrant smuggling fall under the jurisdiction of the High Court.

Prosecutors allege that the six, along with an individual named Wan Mohd. Zulfadli Wan Hassan, 37, who is still at large, were involved in the smuggling operation. The charges are brought under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670), which carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a fine, or both, if convicted. The charges are read in conjunction with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

The prosecution was led by Deputy Public Prosecutors Nur Kamilah Che Ibrahim and Norazalina. Ahmad Nurie Abd. Rahman represented one of the accused, while the other five did not have legal representation. The court has scheduled July 26 for the next mention of the case.