KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested 30 illegal immigrants when they intercepted a wooden “pom pom” boat in Pantai Sungai Pulai on Saturday.
Selangor police chief Datuk Shazeli Kahar said the arrests were made during a joint led by Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants Division (Atipsom) members from federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman.
The team, he said, was assisted by Sabak Bernam Criminal Investigation Department policemen and those from the Sungai Besar police station.
He said members of the operation observed the boat, which did not have any registration number, approaching Pantai Sabak Bernam and immediately moved to intercept it, ordering the tekong to stop before managing to intercept it in Pantai Sungai Pulai.
“As a result, police managed to detain 30 illegal immigrants comprising 21 men and nine women aged between 21 and 49. We also seized two mobile phones which were believed to have been used in migrant smuggling activities,” he said in a statement.
Shazeli said the case was being investigated under Section 26A of the Atipsom Act 2007 as well as the Immigration Act 1959/63.
“This success proves the police force’s commitment to putting an end to the trafficking and smuggling of migrants.
“Selangor police will continue to step up intelligence gathering and joint operations with related agencies to curb transnational crime activities for the sake of national security and sovereignty,” he added.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
