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18 Illegals Detained, 33 Boats, 36 Engines Seized
The 36 engines seized in the ESSCom raids on Kampung Air Kunak 3 and Kampung Pangkalan Kunak.
August 5th, 2016 | 08:26 AM | 1395 views
KUNAK
A total of 18 illegal immigrants were detained, while 33 pump boats and 36 engines were seized in an operation at Kampung Air Kunak 3 and Kampung Pangkalan Kunak by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom), yesterday.
ESSCom commander DCP Dato’ Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said the three-hour operation which began at 6am focused on the water villages which were believed to be the hiding places of the illegal immigrants.
He said 358 individuals were inspected and 18 of them believed to be illegal immigrants, were nabbed.
Sixty-six individuals believed to be sea gypsies (Bajau Palau) were also detained for failing to produce valid documents.
“All those arrested are from the Philippines aged between 20 to 52 and were detained under Section 6 (1)(c), Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/1964 (Amendment 2002) and Immigration Rules 1963.
“They were sent to the Tawau temporary detention centre for documentation before being deported to their country of origin,” Wan Abdul Bari said in a statement, yesterday.
Meanwhile, Wan Abdul Bari said efforts to address the illegal immigrant issue, especially in the east coast of Sabah, needed the cooperation of all parties.
He said all parties, especially community leaders, should work together with ESSCom and immediately lodge a report on the presence of illegal immigrants in their respective areas.
“ESSCom will further strengthen its efforts to address the illegal immigrant (issues),” he said.
Wan Abdul Bari also expressed his appreciation towards all the agencies involved in the operation.
In another development, Wan Abdul Bari advised tugboat operators and fishermen to prepare emergency plans in their respective boats and to immediately inform the authorities in the event of any strangers or suspicious boats approaching their boats.
Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST
by Azmie Lim
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