THE reason why migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers desperately enter Malaysia by any means necessary is also why they attract human smugglers.

Human trafficking is a burgeoning business because of Malaysia's strategic location, reliance on migrant labour and vulnerabilities in law enforcement and border control.

In one clean sweep, Malaysia is a lucrative source, transit hub and destination country for criminal syndicates. The coastline, including the Strait of Malacca, is riddled with smuggling entry points while the dense forest shared with Thailand is ideal cover for refugees and migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh to enter Perlis, Kedah, Perak and Kelantan.

Because of stringent labour policies and expensive work permits, labourers and employers sidestep legal immigration red tape, fuelling the black market for smuggling operations.