Kota Kinabalu: A total of 40 kidnap-for-ransom cases were detected and thwarted in Sabah since 2017.
Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) records revealed that the figure includes members of the Abu Sayyaf militant group who were apprehended and shot dead, owing to Esscom’s continued efforts to tighten security in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone).
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Esscom also carried out 6,473 inspections here and detained 107 individuals for various offences, including illegal immigrants, drugs and smuggling activities.
“Esscom’s role in strengthening security here is seen to positively impact Sabah’s tourism as around 156,363 tourists have visited five Esszone areas from January to September this year, namely Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Semporna,” he said during a visit to the Rela Training Institute in Tuaran, here, on Monday.
