Eight fighting cocks hidden inside palm baskets.
SANDAKAN: The Marine Operations Force detained 17 illegal immigrants and seized eight fighting cocks at waters off Mile 3 here on Tuesday.
MOF (Regional 4) Sabah commander ACP Mohamad Bin Madun said two MOF patrol boats had encountered three pump boats and one speed boat during Ops Pensura between 5.15am to 5.30am.
The boats carried 12 men and five women, including the speedboat skipper and three pump boat skippers aged between 15 to 50.
All of them came from Jolo and Taganak Island, Philippines and had no valid travel documents.
They will be investigated under Section 6 (1) (a) of the Immigration Act for illegally entering Malaysia.
The skippers will also be charged under Section 55A of the Immigration Act for transporting illegal immigrants.
Meanwhile, the MOF found eight ‘Texas’ fighting cocks inside palm baskets in one of the boats believed to be smuggled into Sandakan from the Philippines.
All the illegal immigrants, pump boats, speed boat and confiscated fighting cocks were brought to the MOF Sandakan Base for further investigation.
Mohamad urged the public to channel any information regarding any crimes or smuggling activities at their area to MOF at 089-221423 or 089-221424.
In Semporna, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) arrested five Filipinos in a pump boat off Bohedulang Island yesterday.
District enforcement chief Captain Anor Hj Jaafar said a MMEA patrol boat stopped a pump boat which heading towards Semporna from southern Philippines.
“After inspecting the pump boat, the skipper and four crew aged between 19 and 40, were found to have no identification documents or valid travel documents,” he said.
“All the suspects from Philippines were brought to the Camp Azumi jetty for further investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63,” he said.
Anor also said strict checks would be carried out in border waters, particularly to ensure that no foreigners could exit or enter easily into Malaysian waters.
He added that in cases of emergency and maritime criminal activities at sea, the public can report them by contacting MERS 999 or 089-752115 Tawau MMEA operation office.