KOTA TINGGI: Marine police have thwarted an attempt to smuggle out 163 illegal immigrants, including 45 women and two children, via an illegal route off the Cemara waters here.
A team of officers spotted the group of Indonesian immigrants hiding in the bushes on the beach at around 5.30am yesterday, according to marine police Region Two commander Asst Comm Paul Khui Khon Chiang.
“We believe the immigrants were waiting for a boat to pick them up and ferry them back to Indonesia via a prohibited exit near here.
“We arrested 116 men, 45 women, a boy and a girl, all Indonesians aged between one and 60,” he added.
ACP Khui said the team also arrested a local and the Indonesian boat skipper during the operation.
All the detainees were handed over to the Bandar Penawar police station.
Marine police urged anyone with information on suspicious or illegal activities on the coast to contact their hotline at 07-237 2222 or 07-237 6122.
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