KOTA KINABALU (ANN/THE STAR) – Authorities proved intuitions of a group of undocumented migrants wrong when they were arrested after being found slipping into Sabah at dawn on Friday.
Thinking it might be the best time to evade the authorities, the group was intercepted by marine police at the Gelam-Gelam waters off Sabah’s east coast Semporna district.
The group, believed to be travelling from the Philippines in two speedboats, was heading to the mainland when they were stopped by 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 Assistant Commissioner Ahmad Ariffin confirmed the incident when contacted on Saturday.
“The detainees and the boats have been brought to the marine police base at Semporna for further action,” he said.
