Malaysia Arrests Ten Indonesian Illegal Immigrants

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, June 10 (Antara) - At least ten Indonesian illegal immigrants have been arrested by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Tanjung Gemok waters of Tinggi City, Johor Bahru State after being smuggled out from Malaysia by a boat. "All illegal immigrants were arrested on Sunday morning when several MMEA officers oversee the fishing activity held by Ministry of Rural and Regional Development," said Operational Chief of MMEA for Tanjung Sedili Waters Commander Mustafa Kamal Abas said as quoted by several local media here, Monday. Mustafa added the officers had suspected the barge boat that sails near the fishing site waters. "When the officers approached the boat, they found that the machine was turned off as if no one controls the barge," Abas said. When checking the barge, the officers found at least ten Indonesian illegal immigrants ranging from 19 to 55 years old gathered inside the barge boat. The MMEA preliminary investigation noted the illegal immigrants were on their way back to Indonesia. "We were brought all illegal immigrants to the MEAA port in Tanjung Sedili to conduct further investigation," Abas said. According to Abas, the officials will prosecute the violation using Human Trafficking and Smuggling Law 2007 as well as Immigration Law 1959/63. Abas added the MEAA has improved patrol efforts to eradicate illegal immigrant traffic and terminate crime acts in Malaysian waters.