MMEA INTERCEPTS TWO BOATS CARRYING ILLEGALS IN SELANGOR WATERS

PORT KLANG, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- The Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 55 foreign nationals, including an infant, believed to be attempting to illegally enter and leave the country in two separate boats in the waters of Bagan Nakhoda Omar, Sabak Bernam, early yesterday.

Its director Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh said an unregistered fiberglass boat was intercepted at 12.30 am on Jan 26, about 1.5 nautical miles southwest of Bagan Nakhoda Omar. It was attempting to enter Malaysia from Tanjung Balai, Indonesia.

“Inspection revealed that it was operated by a 36-year-old Myanmar skipper. A total of 26 Indonesian nationals were on board, comprising 17 men, nine women, and a child, aged between five and 53.

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“In addition, two local men aged 46 and 49 were also on the boat and are believed to have exited and are attempting to re-enter the country via illegal routes,” he told a press conference at the Selangor MMEA headquarters here today.

The second boat was intercepted around 2 am, about two nautical miles southwest of the same area, involving a pom-pom boat attempting to leave the country.

He said the boat was operated by a skipper and two crew members, all Indonesians aged between 22 and 32. Further inspection found 24 illegal immigrants on board, 19 men and five women aged between 22 and 64, as well as a three-month-old baby.

“All those detained failed to produce valid identification documents. The illegal immigrants and the seized boats were escorted to the marine police jetty in Pulau Indah for further action.

“The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1953/63 for entering and leaving the country via non-gazetted routes, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007 for attempting to smuggle in illegal immigrants,” he said.

Abdul Muhaimin said each individual aboard the boats was believed to have been charged between RM1,500 and RM2,500, depending on gender and drop-off location.

In a related development, he said since the beginning of the year, Selangor MMEA has detained more than 100 suspects, most of whom are illegal immigrants, indicating an increasing trend of boats attempting to cross the country’s maritime borders.

He said the increase may be linked to preparations for the upcoming Ramadan and Aidilfitri celebrations.

“Enforcement operations will therefore be intensified, and the media is urged to help convey this message to the public.

“MMEA will not compromise with anyone involved in cross-border crimes and will continue to step up operations in Malaysian waters,” he said.

He also urged the public to channel information on maritime criminal activities to the Selangor MMEA operations centre at 013-6606652 or via the emergency hotline 999 for immediate action.

-- BERNAMA