PADANG BESAR: Police foiled an attempt by a syndicate to smuggle five Cambodian men out of Malaysia and into Thailand on Monday.

District police chief Assistant Commissioner Mohd Shokri Abdullah said the men, aged between 18 and 44, were arrested while travelling in a Toyota Unser multi-purpose vehicle near Gapura Square here about 8.30pm.

"Upon inspection, it was found that four of the men's passports had expired while the fifth person did not have valid travel documents.

"We also arrested the MPV driver, a 43-year-old Cambodian woman who has permanent resident status," he told reporters at his office today.

Shokri said, in a follow-up operation, police detained a 34-year-old Cambodian woman in Kedah suspected of masterminding a human trafficking syndicate.

"Investigations revealed the syndicate charged RM400 per trip and RM900 for each migrant transported," he said.

Shokri said the woman who acted as the transporter worked as a vegetable seller and is married to a local man.

He added that checks showed that the woman had a criminal record for human trafficking and other offences.

"The other woman who masterminded the human trafficking syndicate has been living in this country for the past four years and is married to a foreign national. We believe they have been active over the past two years," he said.

Shokri said police seized the MPV, three mobile phones and cash amounting to RM4,272; 3,200 Thai Baht, and 920 Cambodian Riel.

"The women have been remanded for 28 days beginning Jan 7 for investigation under Section 4(5) of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

"Meanwhile, the five men have been remanded for 14 days to facilitate investigations under the Immigration Act," he said