Tawau MMEA Detains 50 Illegal Immigrants And Seizes Controlled Items

TAWAU (Malaysia), Jan 11 (Bernama) -- The Tawau Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 50 illegal immigrants and seized controlled items in an operation at Pulau Larapan, Semporna. Semporna is a town located in Tawau Division, in the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Tawau MMEA spokesman said in a statement here Wednesday that all the illegal immigrants were arrested following an inspection on a Kumpit boat believed to be heading to a neighbouring country at about 9.55pm, on Monday. "When the inspection was carried out, the boat was believed to be on its way to the Philippines and carried 47 passengers and three crew members who were suspected of not having valid travel documents as well as a Malaysian boat owner who just showed his driving licence as official document," said the spokesman. He said the Kumpit boat was not gazetted as a passenger boat as required under the laws of the Sabah Ports and Harbour Department (JPDS). He said further checking on the boat also led to the discovery of 30 barrels of diesel, each containing 30 litres of the fuel to be smuggled out of the country. "The skipper and crew members as well as all the passengers were detained for suspected misuse of the licence, violation of the Immigration Act 1956/63 and the Control of Supplies Act 1961. "They were sent to Tawau for further investigation and action," he said. -- BERNAMA