ESSCom identifies 10 illegal immigrant landing spots in Tawau

TAWAU – The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) has identified 10 active landing spots here used by illegal immigrants to sneak into the country.

ESSCom commander Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman said the locations were Kg Titingan Icebox, Batu 2 Jalan Apas, Kg Aman Jaya, Kg Kurnia Jaya, Kg Hidayat, Kg Kinabutan, Kg Batu Payung, Kg Wakuba, Inderasabah, and Kg Tanjung Batu.

“These locations are actively being used by syndicates to bring illegal immigrants into the country.

“ESSCom, through Ops Cegah Pati, will continue to tighten controls and beef up patrols to curb cross-border crimes,” he said.

Fuad said the operation was also conducted with the cooperation of various security agencies including the Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Malaysian Police, and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

According to him, the operation has thwarted several attempts by foreigners to enter the country illegally through Tawau.

He said seven foreigners, including five women believed to have just landed at a river in Kg Batu 5 from Indonesia and were travelling in three vehicles, were detained two days ago.

Fuad said all of them, aged between 17 and 53, did not possess any personal identification documents and were nabbed at Kg Kinabutan Tiku Jalan Chung Hwa here at 10.30pm.

“Two locals and an Indonesian man, in their 30s, who were behind the wheel of the vehicles, were also detained,” he said.

In a separate case, Fuad said eight illegal Indonesian immigrants, aged between six and 47, were arrested at Kg Kurnia Jaya Batu 4, earlier this month.

He urged the public to provide information on migrant smuggling activities at their areas by contacting the ESSCom operation centre at 089-863181. – Bernama, February 18, 2021