TAWAU: A dozen illegal immigrants who are believed to be returning to work in Sabah were arrested while trying to enter through an illegal route near the Tawau Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) jetty, here, on Tuesday.
Swift action by maritime enforcement officials led to the arrest of a boat skipper who tried to escape by jumping into the sea.
The 32-year-old suspect was arrested along with 12 others on the boat.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Tawau Director Capt Shahrizan Raman said a team on patrol noticed the boat not far from the Tawau CIQ jetty.
“We detected the passenger boat around 10.30am and when our men approached, it sped away,” he said, Wednesday.
He said the boat was heading into Tawau waters from Pulau Sebatik.
Shahrizan said when MMEA officers instructed the skipper to stop for an inspection, he dived into the sea.
“However, we managed to quickly catch the skipper and detained 12 men on board the vessel,” he added.
All those detained, aged 18 to 61, were undocumented.
The suspects were brought back to the Tawau Marine Jetty for further investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Shahrizan said the boat and other items valued at around RM30,000 were confiscated.
Shahrizan said MMEA would continue its patrols to prevent crime at sea, especially in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone), and urged the public to call in at 089-752116 or the 999 emergency number if they see or suspect any wrongdoings.
