The Kelantan branch of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has detained 14 illegal immigrants in three separate operations along coastal and river routes.
PASIR PUTEH: The Kelantan branch of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 14 illegal immigrants suspected of entering the country through ungazetted routes along the rivers and coastal areas of Kelantan in three separate operations on Oct 14, 19 and 21.
Its director, Captain Maritime Kamal Mohamad said that those detained comprised 12 men and two women aged between 19 and 51 years, involving 10 Myanmar nationals, three Indonesians and one Bangladeshi.
He said the operations were carried out to combat migrant smuggling activities around Sungai Tumpat, Sungai Kelantan near Kampung Ekor Pasir in Pasir Mas, and the Jeti Floating Market Pulau Pisang in Kota Bharu.
“On Oct 14, at 6.15 am, the enforcement team detected a suspicious speedboat without lights in the waters off Kuala Tumpat.
“The boat managed to escape, but as a result of the search along the river, our officers detained three Indonesian nationals, consisting of two women and one man, who did not have valid travel documents,” he said at a press conference at the Kelantan MMEA headquarters here today.
Kamal said on Oct 19, at 10.05 pm, the enforcement team detected an unlit speedboat navigating the Sungai Kelantan near Kampung Ekor Pasir but the boat fled upon realising the presence of the authorities.
“A search along the riverbank then found 10 Myanmar nationals hiding in the bushes. The inspection found that they were suspected of not having valid travel documents,” he said.
He said that in operation on Oct 21 at 5.13 am, the operation team detected several individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants running from the direction of the Jeti Floating Market Pulau Pisang towards two vehicles.
“Both vehicles then sped away, nearly colliding with the enforcement officers. A man was thrown out of one of the vehicles before being apprehended, while several other individuals turned back towards the boat and escaped through the river,” he said.
He also said that a Bangladeshi man was detained after the MMEA boat arrived at the location around 5.21 am.
Kamal added that all 14 detainees were taken to the Kelantan MMEA headquarters for further investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63, as they are suspected of being in Malaysia without valid travel documents.