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SEMPORNA: A total of 61 Filipinos believed to be illegal immigrants were detained during an integrated operation coordinated by Esscom here on Thursday.

Esscom Commander DCP Datuk Victor Sanjos said the operation was carried out with the cooperation of the police, Malaysian Armed Forces and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, as well as federal and state agencies including local authorities.

He said 1,125 individuals and 375 premises, including hotels and resorts, were inspected in Semporna town areas, including squatters and villages, resulting in the arrest of 61 individuals suspected to be illegal immigrants who were handed over to the Immigration Department for further action under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Victor said Sabah Electricity also cut off illegal electricity connections with materials weighing almost 40 kilograms under Section 61(3) of the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024, while security operations were conducted on routes identified as being used by criminals near land and water borders.

He said Esscom will continue to intensify integrated operations in the Esszone districts to curb cross-border criminal elements and called on the public to channel information on security incidents to the Esscom Operations Centre at 089-863181 or via WhatsApp at 011-63311072.