MP thanks depts for conducting operation in his constituency

International Trade and Industry Minister cum Penampang member of parliament Datuk Darell Leiking has thanked the Customs and Immigration Departments for successfully conducting a joint operation in his constituency on Wednesday.

Darell’s political secretary, Pritchard Gumbaris, spoke on Darell’s behalf as the minister was in Melbourne, Australia for an official trade mission.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, the Immigration Department conducted a surprise inspection of squatter houses at Nagasiba, Kobusak, where 40 undocumented persons were detained.

Gumbaris said the parliamentary office had been coordinating with the land owner for the past few months hence the operation was made possible.

Later in the evening, a successful joint operation was carried out led by the Customs Department and assisted by Penampang District Council, MPKK and the Penampang parliamentary office.

The inspection was carried out on Matamas Laundry Shop after receiving tip-offs from the communities that foreigners were still operating the outlet from behind.

The Customs Department confiscated 3,570 boxes of unpaid duty cigarettes, a Hilux vehicle believed used to transport the illegal goods, and detained two foreigners to assist the authorities in their investigation.

The two operations showed the government’s seriousness in tackling undocumented aliens and illegal businesses in Penampang, Gumbaris said.