TAWAU: An attempt by a group of five Filipinos to sneak into the country through Tinagat in a pump boat was foiled by Marine Police Force, here yesterday.
Sabah Marine Police (Region 4) commander ACP Mohamad Pajeri Ali said a 63-year-old skipper and four passengers, aged between 27 and 47 years were detained at 9.30pm, following information from Marine Intelligence Unit on a suspicious movement of the pump boat in Tinagat waters.
“All the passengers confessed that they came from the Philippines and entered the district by paying RM400 each to the skipper,” he said in a statement, here today.
He explained that all detainees were taken to the Tawau Marine Police operations headquarters for further action under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM) for carrying activities of smuggling migrants.
He said marine police also seized the pump boat and some of the belongings of passengers worth RM3,000. - Bernama
