Five illegals held in Op Benteng in Sabah

KALABAKAN, Dec 29 -- The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) arrested five Indonesian illegal immigrants including two women and a five-year-old girl at an oil palm estate on the Malaysian border yesterday.

The suspects, aged between five and 32 years, were nabbed by Malaysian Fifth Infantry Brigade personnel who were on patrol at 5.30 pm during the Op Benteng.

Fifth Infantry Brigade Commander Brig Gen Zambery Jefry Darus, in a statement today, said the immigrants had entered the country to look for jobs in the agriculture sector.

He said they were expelled from the country’s borders at 7 pm before a police report was lodged at the Kalabakan police station.

“The Fifth Brigade team on patrol duty will ensure that illegal immigrants detained will be deported to curb the spread of COVID-19,” he added.

He also warned locals who work in farms not to become traitors or brokers to bring illegal immigrants into the country.

-- BERNAMA