IPOH: The police have arrested 64 foreigners in a boat near Pulau Talang, Manjung on the Malacca Straits.
Acting Perak police chief Deputy Comm Azizi Mat Aris said the arrests were made at about 2.15am on Wednesday (Aug 10), following a tip-off.
“Together with the Royal Malaysian Navy and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the marine police unit stopped an unregistered boat 2.5 nautical miles from Pulau Talang, Manjung,” said DCP Azizi.
“Checks conducted on the boat found 54 men and seven women, believed to be illegal immigrants from a neighbouring country, all not having legal travelling documents,” he added in a statement.
DCP Azizi said that police personnel also arrested a 39-year-old man believed to be the boat captain and two of his assistants aged 40 and 45, also from the same neighbouring country.
“They have all been detained at our Kampung Acheh base of operations for investigations,” he added.
DCP Azizi said initial investigations found that all the illegal immigrants have paid between RM800 and RM4,000 to an agent in their country to smuggle them into Malaysia.
“The boat captain said they were heading towards Pulau Angsa and Sekinchan, Selangor.
“The case will be investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act and Section 4 of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act,” he said.
“The police always welcome the cooperation of the people, as the information given have helped in this incident,” he said, adding that information on suspected illegal activities can be forwarded to the nearest police station or the state police contingent operations room at 05-240 1999 or 05-245 1073.