A 46-year-old Malaysian man has been detained after allegedly using an illegal sea route between Indonesia and Malaysia in an attempt to keep a second marriage hidden from his first wife. The case came to light during a large-scale anti-smuggling operation conducted off the coast of Selangor, drawing attention to the continued use of “backdoor” routes in the region.
According to Malaysian maritime authorities, the man admitted that he had travelled to Medan to visit his second wife, who is reportedly five months pregnant. He claimed his first wife had confiscated his passport, making it impossible for him to travel through official immigration checkpoints without raising questions.
Faced with the lack of travel documents, he allegedly decided to enter and leave Malaysia illegally by sea. He told investigators this was his first time using an unauthorised route, adding that he was driven by concern after learning that his pregnant second wife was in critical condition.
Secret relationship uncovered during enforcement operation
The man was among dozens detained during a special overnight operation by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), which was targeting human smuggling activities along Selangor’s coastline. Officers intercepted two boats in the early hours of the morning following intelligence reports about illegal cross-border movements.
The first interception took place shortly after midnight near Bagan Nakhoda Omar. Authorities stopped an unregistered fibreglass boat operated by a Myanmar national, which was carrying 26 Indonesian migrants, including women and children, along with two Malaysian men.
A second vessel was stopped roughly two hours later in the same area. That boat was found to be transporting 24 undocumented migrants, among them a three-month-old baby girl, highlighting the risks taken by families attempting to cross borders illegally.
Human smuggling syndicate and rising risks
Investigations revealed that the smuggling syndicate behind the operation charged fees ranging from about S$450 to S$750 per person, depending on travel distance and drop-off location. Such illegal crossings pose serious safety risks, particularly for children and infants travelling in overcrowded boats without proper safety equipment.
Among those detained was a 32-year-old Indonesian single father who was attempting to return home with his infant daughter after his wife disappeared. He reportedly told officers that he had no remaining family support in Malaysia and felt he had no other option.
Maritime authorities confirmed that all detained migrants failed to produce valid identification documents. The suspects, along with the seized boats, were handed over to the Marine Police Force for further investigation and legal action.
The case underscores ongoing challenges faced by regional authorities in curbing illegal immigration and human smuggling, issues that also have implications for border security, immigration enforcement, and regional travel safety. For Singapore readers, it serves as a reminder of the complex social and financial pressures that continue to drive risky, unlawful cross-border movements in Southeast Asia.