Indonesian human trafficker nabbed
Published on: Saturday, September 10, 2016
Lahad Datu: A 52-year-old Indonesian skipper, believed to be the mastermind of a human trafficking syndicate, has been detained together with eight illegal immigrants during an integrated operation in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone). Esscom Commander Dato Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said the Tawau marine police success in detaining and confiscating a speedboat with eight illegal immigrants including its Indonesian skipper showed the existence of the syndicate which tried to bring in the immigrants from a neighbouring country. "Congratulations to the Tawau marine police for the success in tracking down the mastermind in this case," he said, adding that the case will be investigated by the Criminal Investigations Department under the Anti-Trafficking in Person and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom).
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A total of 16 Filipinos and six Indonesians aged between 17 and 61 were nabbed during the integrated operation led by the Sabah Eastern Security Command (Esscom) held from Sept 5 to Thursday in the Esszone. Wan Abdul Bari said the operation was conducted in the waters of five districts believed to be routes and staging points for smuggling and entry of illegal immigrants in the country. The districts were Tawau, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Kudat. Also confiscated were five pump boats, 17 pieces of wood worth RM12,820 and subsidised goods such as cooking gas cylinders, petrol and diesel all worth more than RM87,789.95.
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"All those detained have been referred to the Immigration Department for further action, while the subsidised goods have been handed over to the Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Co-operatives Ministry and the Forestry Department. He said the success is due to surveillance and continuous operations conducted by all security enforcement agencies including the police, army and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
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"I thank and congratulate the Semporna marine police and the General Operations Force based in the Mataking Post in foiling the attempt to smuggle 17 pieces of wood of various species and subsidised goods amounting to RM46,208 in the waters of Nusa Kuya, Tobo-Tobo and Mataking Island. "The Tawau MMEA also succeeded in intercepting boats carrying subsidised goods such as cooking gas cylinders, flour, sugar and cooking oil amounting to RM8,181 in the Tawau waters," he said.On the Philippine government's bid to stop and wipe out remaining Abu Sayyaf militants in the Southern Philippines, Wan Bari said Esscom will always keep updated on the operation and will cooperate with their counterparts in the Philippines in obtaining the latest information to ensure no Abu Sayyaf militants sneak into Malaysian waters. "We will tighten security control in the country's waters by conducting several special operations such as Ops Gasak Laut and Ops Bersepadu in the waters near Philippine waters. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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