Law enforcement personnel screening passengers on a bus.
KOTA KINABALU: A total of 29 people were detained for various offences in an operation spearheaded by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in the Beluran district.
The three-day operation at Sapi Nangoh that ended on Saturday (May 11) also involved various state and federal agencies.
Esscom Commander Deputy Comm Datuk Victor Sanjos said they had initially screened 1,076 people and checked 512 vehicles.
"From the individual screening, we arrested 11 Filipinos and Indonesians for various immigration offences," he said, in a statement here on Sunday (May 12).
"Besides that, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry roped in two people and seized a four-wheel drive vehicle for suspicion of transporting 600 litres of diesel without a proper permit," he added.
He said seven people were detained after they were found positive for methamphetamine, adding two others were hauled in for possession of drugs.
"We also detained seven people for possession of 1,135 cartons of cigarettes under the Customs Act 1967," said DCP Sanjos.
He added traffic police issued 96 summonses to motorists for various offences.
Towards this end, he said the operation was aimed at curbing the smuggling of controlled goods and crime prevention as well as detecting the entry of undocumented migrants on main roads connecting the state’s west and east coasts.
"This included jalan tikus (hidden trails) which we have identified were being used by criminals in Beluran.
"The operation is intended to help make the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) a safer place," he said.
DCP Sanjos urged the public to assist the authorities in these efforts by reporting any incident or anything suspicious to the Esscom operations centre at 089-863 181 or the WhatsApp number 011-6331 1072.
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