TAWAU: Two locals were arrested while attempting to smuggle in five Indonesian illegal immigrants in two separate incidents in the waters off here, on Monday.
Tawau Maritime Zone Director Maritime Captain Shahrizan Raman said the two aged 66 and 19 were the skippers of a passenger boat and a barge. He said the boat was carrying two men, in their 20s, from Pulau Sebatik towards the waters off Mile 2 around 8.20am, adding the barge was carrying three male passengers around 5.30pm in the waters of Inderasabah.
Shahrizan said all the five foreigners were found to be not possessing any valid identification documents.
“All those detained were taken to the Tawau Maritime Zone Jetty for inspection and further investigation under the Sabah Ports and Harbour Department Enactment and the Immigration Act 1959/63,” he added.
He said the seized items, including the boat, boat engine and personal belongings were worth RM58,500.
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