Esscom detains eight immigrants in Covid-19 prevention op

 By Olivia Miwil - February 5, 2021 @ 4:47pm

Esscom commander Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman said the immigrants, all Indonesians, were arrested during 'Op Cegah Pati' at Kampung Kurnia Jaya Batu 4 at Jalan Apas. - Photo courtesy of Esscom.

TAWAU: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) detained eight illegal immigrants during an operation to curb the spread of Covid-19 here yesterday.

Esscom commander Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman said the immigrants, all Indonesians, were arrested during 'Op Cegah Pati' at Kampung Kurnia Jaya Batu 4 at Jalan Apas.

The eight were in a Toyota Hilux pickup truck which was stopped by security personnel at 10.30pm.

"A team of six General Operations Force (GOF) personnel from the 14th Battalion, four marine police and five members of the Royal Ranger Regiment, led by Esscom, had flagged down the vehicle.

"The eight comprised three men, three women and two children," he said in a statement, adding that none of the immigrants had any documents on them.

Ahmad Fuad said the immigrants were brought to the district police station for further investigation under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) 2007.