43 suspected illegals heading to the Philippines detained in Semporna waters

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TAWAU: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) arrested 43 suspected illegal immigrants while patrolling the Semporna waters on Dec 30.

Tawau MMEA chief of enforcement, Capt Wan Mohd Affandi Wan Ahmad in a statement yesterday said they were arrested around 10pm, following an inspection on a boat which was believed to be heading towards the Philippines.

He said the boat was without a registration number and during inspection, all the passengers failed to produce any valid identification documents, without stating the gender and age of those detained.

Wan Mohd Affandi said the    unlicensed boat was taken to the Tawau MMEA jetty for further investigation.

The case is being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and the Immigration Act 1959/63. — Bernama