Nigerian deportees escape after officer 'buys drinks'

The men arrived early for their flight at KL International airport, prompting the immigration official to drive them to a petrol station "claiming that he wanted to buy drinks," home ministry official Mohamed Asri Yusof said.

"On the way back to the terminal, the immigration officer claimed that seven African men in two cars, stopped the van and freed the Nigerians before handcuffing him to the steering wheel," he added.

The immigration officer involved has been suspended pending investigations.
Yusof appealed to the public to report anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant to the police.

Last month, authorities detained seven immigration department officials under tough internal security laws, over suspicions of involvement in human trafficking.

Immigration activists say Malaysia is often used as a staging post for trafficking gangs.
In March, Malaysia announced plans to reduce the 1.9 million foreign workers in the country and last week unveiled a national plan to combat human trafficking.