Attempt to smuggle in 11 Filipino illegals foiled
Published on: Tuesday, August 14, 2018
Kudat: An attempt to smuggle 11 Filipino illegals into the country via pump boat was foiled when they were nabbed by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) during "Ops Pluto Timur", 1.4 nautical miles off Tanjung Inaruntung, Pitas, on Sunday.Kudat Maritime Zone Chief Lt Commander Boon Chin Chau said the boat had attempted to enter Sabah through Kudat waters from Kagayan Island, southern Philippines, when an MMEA patrol team detected it around 10pm."An inspection found 11 Filipinos including the skipper, aged between two and 54, comprising six men and five women. Two of them failed to produce valid identification documents.
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"The pump boat was not registered with the Sabah Ports and Harbours Department (JPDS). The suspects and the boat were escorted to the Kudat Marine Jetty for further investigations," he said, Monday.The case is being investigated under the Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002, the Immigration Act 1959/63 as well as the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) 2007.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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In the event of crime or accident at sea, the public are advised to contact MERS (999) or the Kudat Maritime Operations Centre (088-611858).
