75 illegal immigrants nabbed in Tawau

TAWAU, March 1 -- The Immigration Department (JIM) in Sabah has detained 75 illegal immigrants in a raid at three squatter areas near here, on Saturday.

Sabah JIM director, Datuk Dr Muhamad Sade Mohamad Amin said 250 foreign nationals were inspected at the three squatter areas in an operation at 11.30 pm.

He said the three squatter areas were Kampung Sungai Buaya, Kampung Pasir Putih and the Bayan Kongsi House at the Eighth Mile, Jalan Apas.

‘’A total 57 Filipinos and 18 Indonesians were detained in the integrated operation under Section 6(1)© of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

‘’They did not have valid personal identification documents,’’ he said in a statement here, today.

Muhamad Sade said the detainees were sent to the Tawau Immigration Detention Depot and Quarantine Centre for further investigation.

Meanwhile, he said the operation was conducted to take legal action against the illegal settlements and to detect the individuals masterminding the influx of the illegals.

He said the operation was implemented with 117 Immigration officers and personnel including other enforcement agencies such as police and the National Security Council (MKN).

-- BERNAMA