TAWAU – Two local men were detained as they were moving a group of illegal immigrants during a crackdown by authorities here last night, indicating human trafficking activities are still present in Sabah.
Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) commander Datuk Ahmad Fuad said eight foreign men, a woman and a boy, were held, along with the two local men in Kg Kurnia Jaya, Jalan Apas, near here in Op Cegah Pati.
He said the operation was based on information gathered from a “contact of interest”, and ESSCom detected last night’s suspicious boat movement from the Philippines border into the village by radar.
“A team of 15 security personnel was despatched to the location.
“The illegal immigrants were inside the living room and were believed to have just arrived after entering the country illegally from the Philippines,” he said.
The foreigners are aged between 10 and 70 years old, and none had documents on them.
The two local men were taken to the Tawau police station.
They are being investigated under Section 55 (E) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. – The Vibes, April 20, 2021
