Armed Forces arrests 11 illegal immigrants near Mersing

MERSING: The Armed Forces has arrested 11 Indonesian illegal immigrants during Op Benteng on Tuesday (Feb 16) in the Tenggaroh jungles near here.

A patrol team detected suspicious human movement in the jungle at 4.20am following a tip-off from local villagers.

“A Quick Reaction Force (QRF) team was deployed to the jungle at 5.10am and the 11 illegal immigrants were caught in the area under the jurisdiction of the Seventh Malaysian Infantry Brigade,’’ the Armed Forces said in a statement.

The 11 suspects – all men aged 19 to 50, were taken to the Tanjung Sepang Tactical headquarters for documentation.

A police report was lodged at Sungai Ambat police station here at 8am.

“All suspects were sent to Sungai Rengit Health Clinic in Pengerang, Kota Tinggi, 159km from here at 9.30am for Covid-19 tests and tested negative,’’ added the statement.

The team also seized RM413.48 in cash and four mobile phones worth RM200.

All suspects have been handed over to the Immigration Department in Setia Tropika, Johor Baru, about 150km from here.

The QRF team, the Armed Forces drone team and the Navy have been mobilised to track down remaining illegal immigrants possibly hiding in nearby areas.