Ops benteng: 59 illegal immigrants arrested, three vehicles and a boat seized

PUTRAJAYA: Fifty-nine illegal immigrants were detained under Ops Benteng as security forces beef up enforcement to prevent foreigners from entering the country illegally.

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said a boat and three vehicles were seized during the nationwide operations on Wednesday (Sept 30).

He pledged stern action against foreigners attempting to sneak into the country, including via illegal routes.

Ismail also said police arrested 98 individuals, including 10 for failing to settle their quarantine bill.

Among the other offences were pub and nightclub activities (34), not wearing face masks (22) and not practising social distancing (24).

"Police remanded three of the offenders, while the remaining 95 were slapped with compounds," said Ismail on Thursday (Oct 1).

The special task force monitoring standard operating procedure compliance checked 54,764 premises.

Ismail also said since July 24 to date, 38,321 individuals had returned to Malaysia and were quarantined at designated stations.

A total of 29,517 have been discharged so far.