KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) foiled an attempt to smuggle 57 foreigners into the country after stopping a wooden boat off Tanjung Karang, Selangor.
Selangor MMEA director Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said the operation followed intelligence about migrant smuggling activities in the waters off Tanjung Karang.
He said a patrol boat was deployed to the area and stopped a suspicious red-and-black boat without a registration number.
"The vessel was intercepted about 0.7 nautical miles southwest of Tanjung Karang," he said in a statement.
Checks found that the boat was operated by a 23-year-old Indonesian skipper and two Indonesian crew members aged 18 and 28. It was also carrying 54 Indonesian migrants, comprising 31 men and 23 women aged between 18 and 60.
Abdul Muhaimin said some of the migrants were found carrying passports.
All 57 Indonesians, along with the seized boat, were escorted to the Marine Police jetty in Pulau Indah.
The case is also being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM) for attempting to smuggle migrants.
Abdul Muhaimin said the agency would step up enforcement and take firm action against cross-border crime.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd