266 illegals detained in KK, Penampang

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KOTA KINABALU: A total of 266 illegal immigrants were detained in a joint operation in Kota Kinabalu and Penampang on June 19 and 20.

Sabah National Security Council secretary Rodzi Md Saad disclosed that those apprehended were among the 589 inspected in the operation.

According to him, Filipinos made up the most numbers with 153 of them men and the rest women. Out of them, 84 were children with 45 boys and 66 girls.

“Eight other individuals detained were Indonesians and three of them were men and five women.

“All the illegal immigrants were arrested under the Immigration Act 1959/63 Amendment 2002 and Immigrations Regulations for illegal entry.

“They were sent to the temporary detention centre here, pending further investigation,” said Rodzi in a statement here yesterday.

He added that the ages of those held ranged from one year to 50.

Rodzi said since January, a total of 5,844 immigrants had been inspected and 3,209 of them were detained for screening.

The number of illegal immigrants held, he added, as of June 20 since January were 2,368.

“To date, 7,341 illegal immigrants are being detained at all the temporary detention centres statewide. They include 1,821 in Kota Kinabalu detention centre, 2,216 in Papar, 1,417 in Sibuga and 1,887 more in Tawau.

“For the same period, a total of 11,545 illegal immigrants had been deported back to their home countries.

“Out of the number, 8,710 were Filipinos and 2,808 were Indonesians. The rest were other nationalities,” he said.