88 illegals nabbed, 145 houses pulled down
LAHAD DATU: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) nabbed 88 illegal immigrants and pulled down 145 houses built on government’s reserve land in a special integrated operation launched at six areas in Felda Sahabat, on Monday.
ESSCom commander DCP Dato’ Wan Abd Bari Wan Abd Khalid in a statement yesterday said the eight-hour operation was conducted at Kampung Batu Batu, Kampung Kenali, Kampung Pangkalan, Kampung Sinakut Lama and Baru and Kampung Sungai Merah.
A total of 433 officers and members of ESSCom, Police, Armed Forces, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Road Transport Department (RTD), District Council and District Office, National Registration Department (NRD), Immigration and Forestry Department took part in the operation.
“One hundred and forty-two individuals were inspected in the operation and 88 of them were taken to the documentation centre for screening process.
“All of the individuals aged between nine months and 70 are Filipinos and Indonesians who were detained for failing to produce valid identification documents,” said Wan Abd Bari.
He said those detained would be investigated under Section 6(1)(C) of the Immigration Act 1959/1961 before being taken to the temporary detention centre for deportation to their countries of origin.
During the operation a man was also arrested after his urine tested positive for drug abuse while 32 summonses were issued by RTD for various offences, including for not having a driving licence.
The District Council also demolished 145 houses built illegally on the government’s reserve land.
“This operation will be carried out from time to time to flush out illegal immigrants and curb smuggling activities involving illegal immigrants.
“We (ESSCom) are paying serious attention to this matter as illegal immigrants were identified as the main fuel smugglers to the neighbouring country which would be used by cross border criminals to commit kidnapping in our waters or borders,” he added.