KOTA KINABALU: Foiled kidnapping attempts and crippling smuggling cases were among many breakthroughs with the presence of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in Sabah’s east coast.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said these are among the successes of Esscom since Jan 15, 2020, up to Feb 28 this year.
He said apart from ensuring zero kidnapping during this period, Esscom personnel had also played a vital role in safeguarding the east coast, making raids and arrests as well as foiling numerous criminal attempts.
"Esscom had conducted physical inspections on over 5.2 million people, vehicles and boats during this period where a total of 1,907 suspects were nabbed, in addition to 1,118 vehicles and vessels seized for various offences,” he said during a recent programme in Tawau.
Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman, the Home Ministry’s deputy chief secretary (security) who read Saifuddin Nasution’s speech text, said this was made possible with the highly committed workforce in Esscom.
He said Esscom managed to make some RM90mil in seizures, including RM55mil worth of contrabands and smuggled items.
Drugs and items belonging to illegal immigrants that were seized were valued at around RM34.4mil, the minister added.
While conducting patrols and operations, Esscom personnel prevented 1,890 illegals and 294 vessels from encroaching into Malaysian waters.
Also present was Kukusan assemblywoman Datuk Rina Jainal.
