The Malaysian Immigration Department raided a budget hotel at Jalan Wong Ah Fook and freed six Sri Lankan men from a human-trafficking syndicate.

On a tip-off, the department’s officers saved the Sri Lankan men, who were confined to two rooms at the hotel quoting Johor Immigration Deputy Assistant Director Gajendra Bahadur, Bernam website reported.

He said the operation was a follow-up to an investigation on an agent of a human-trafficking syndicate who was arrested recently.

The agent, a Malaysian, was believed to have collected RM5,000 each from the Sri Lankans for job placement, Johor Immigration Deputy Assistant Director told reporters.

“They will be held at the Tanjung Kling Depot, Malacca pending deportation to Sri Lanka,” he added.

The case is being investigated under Section 44 (1) of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, Bernama further said.