Bid by illegal immigrants to sneak into Sabah fails

KOTA KINABALU: A group of undocumented migrants thought dawn might be the best time to evade the authorities and slip into the country undetected.

They could not be more wrong when the group was intercepted by the marine police at the Gelam-Gelam waters off Sabah’s east coast Semporna district on Friday (Sept 15).

The group, believed to be travelling from the Philippines in two speedboats, was headed to the mainland when they were stopped by the police who were patrolling the area under Op Taring Gelora Khas at 6.30am.

A source said a subsequent inspection found no valid travel papers on the migrants aged between six and 60.

They were then detained and their boats also seized, added the source.

Marine Police Region 4 commander Asst Comm Ahmad Ariffin confirmed the incident when contacted on Saturday (Sept 16).

“The detainees and the boats have been brought to the Semporna marine police base for further action,” he said.