KOTA KINABALU: Some 652 illegal immigrants from the Philippines were deported back to their home country on Thursday (Sept 5) through Sandakan port.
Sabah Immigration director Datuk SH Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said this deportation marks the 13th batch of illegal immigrants to be sent back via sea this year.
“They boarded the MV Antonia 1 vessel bound for Zamboanga City Port in the Philippines.
“The age range was from 76 years old to two months old, where minors are accompanied by their parents or guardians.
“So far, 3,118 Filipino detainees have been deported this year involving sea and air routes – bringing the total of immigrants deported to 4,809 individuals,” she said in a statement.
Those deported are from the Papar, Sandakan and Tawau immigration depots, consisting of 469 men, 130 women, 43 children aged 12 and under and 10 toddlers/babies aged 23 months and under, she added.
