91 illegal immigrants rounded up

MIRI: The 12th Battalion of General Operations Force (PGA) here rounded up 91 illegal immigrants at an oil palm estate in Suai, Niah on Nov 9.

The raiding team comprising 64 GPA personnel and six from Immigration Department here, ambushed the estate around 1.30am.

PGA 12th Battalion Miri commanding officer Superintendent Tan Hiap Seng told a press conference yesterday that the ambush was mounted following a month-long surveillance

“After one month we met with officers from the Immigration Department and immediately fixed a day to carry out the plan,” he said.

As a result of the search 91 illegal immigrants aged between 15 and 56 years were rounded up; 85 of them were arrested under Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for entering the country without valid documents while the rest (six) were detained under Section 15 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) for overstaying.

“They have been brought to Bekenu Immigration depot pending investigation by the Immigration Department,” he said.

Tan said they would continue to carry out raids throughout the district in their ongoing effort to flush illegal immigrants.

After one month we met with officers from the Immigration Department and immediately fixed a day to carry out the plan. — Superintendent Tan Hiap Seng, PGA 12th Battalion Miri commanding officer