Migrant CARE: A Cooperating-Witness Channel Against  Illegal Cigarette Syndicates

KUALA LUMPUR, 10 July 2026 – Migrant CARE is calling on the relevant authorities to establish a cooperating-witness channel, similar to mechanisms used in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States, in tackling organised crime networks, allowing migrant workers already implicated in the illegal cigarette trade to share informationanonymously on the syndicates running the network them in exchange for consideration in how their case is handled.

Alex Ong, Country Representative of Migrant CARE, said, “We recognise the ongoing enforcement efforts by the authorities. However, action must also focus on those who profit from these networks, rather than those at the point of sale. Without a structured mechanism to encourage disclosure, those at the bottom of the chain have no incentive to cooperate, and the syndicates above them remain protected by that silence.”

Illegal Cigarette Syndicates

Alex highlighted a case that reflects the serious consequences faced by those drawn into the illicit cigarette trade. An Indonesian domestic helper’s cousin, who came to Malaysia for construction work, took up selling illegal cigarettes to repay recruitment-related debt. He was later arrested, fined, deported, and barred from re-entering Malaysia. He has since returned home, with his opportunity to work in Malaysia lost while the debt remains unpaid.

“Some migrant workers are exploited by these networks, where those who organise and profit remain hidden while others carry out the risk. These are real pressures. But working here is a responsibility, and that does not excuse getting involved in illegal activities,” he said.

These cases are not isolated. Recent findings show 68.8% of buyers identified foreign nationals as sellers, and 99% reported that illegal cigarettes were easy or very easy to obtain.

Enforcement efforts continue to intensify. Earlier this month in Selayang Baru, authorities detained an Indonesian national and seized 389 cartons of illegal cigarettes from a suspected distribution point.

“Enforcement is actively identifying locations involved in this trade. The question is not whether action will be taken, but when,” he added.

Alex noted that while enforcement against sellers continues, the syndicates who recruit and profit from them are rarely apprehended. This is exactly why the cooperating-witness channel matters: it reaches further up the chain than raids alone.

Criminal conduct

He warned that involvement in illicit cigarette activities should never be seen as an easy source of income.

“This is not supplementary income. It is criminal conduct. The consequences are swift and lasting: deportation, loss of lawful employment, visa cancellation and the forfeiture of everything accumulated during years of work here. The hardship does not end upon return,” Alex warned.

Under Malaysian law, individuals found involved in the illicit cigarette trade may face prosecution under the Customs Act 1967, which carries fines of up to RM500,000 and imprisonment of up to five years, depending on the offence. In addition, immigration action may be taken under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and related regulations, including cancellation of work passes, deportation, and blacklisting from re-entry into Malaysia. 

“We support firm enforcement, applied consistently and without exception. But enforcement must go hand in hand with prevention, ensuring that workers understand the risks before they are drawn into networks that profit from their vulnerability. The message must be clear: enforcement is active, the consequences are severe, and there is zero tolerance for involvement in the illegal cigarette trade,” Alex concluded.

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