The immigrants who tried to enter Sabah illegally and their possessions.
SEMPORNA: A patrol team from the Sabah Marine Operations Force (MOF) Region 4 foiled a cross-border activity with the detention of 15 Filipinos attempting to sneak into Sabah illegally via the waters off Silapak Canal near here yesterday.
MOF Region 4 commander ACP Hj. Mohamad Pajeri Ali said a pump-boat with the illegal immigrants was intercepted while entering from a neighbouring country by a marine police team in a patrol boat at 12.30 am.
Upon inspection, all the 15 persons failed to produce any valid identification documents, he said, adding that the skipper of the boat and its passengers admitted that they came from Simunul, Tawi-Tawi, Philippines.
According to the passengers, they reportedly paid an certain amount of money (Pesos) to the skipper, Hj Mohd said.
Among the items seized were three engines, propeller shafts, jerry-cans, Malaysian and Philippines currencies valued at about RM11,490.
All the detained persons will be investigated under the Anti-Human Trafficking and Anti-Migrant Trafficking Act 2007, he added.