KOTA KINABALU: The presence of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in Sabah’s east coast has not only foiled kidnapping attempts but also thwarted numerous smuggling cases in the last five years.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic) said these were among the many breakthroughs Esscom notched up from Jan 15, 2020, to Feb 28 this year.
He said that apart from ensuring zero-kidnapping success during this period, Esscom personnel had also played a vital role in safeguarding the east coast of Sabah, making raids and arrests, as well as stopping numerous criminal attempts.
“Esscom conducted physical inspections on over 5.2 million people, vehicles and boats during this period, where 1,907 people were nabbed and 1,118 vehicles as well as vessels seized for various offences,” he said during a programme in the east coast town of Tawau yesterday.
Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman, the Home Ministry’s deputy chief secretary (security) who read out Saifuddin Nasution’s speech, said the efforts were made possible with Esscom’s highly committed workforce.
It was revealed that Esscom managed to make some RM90mil in seizures, of which contraband and smuggled items made up the bulk of it at RM55mil in value.
Drugs and items belonging to illegal immigrants that were seized were valued at around RM34.4mil, Saifuddin Nasution added.
He also said that while conducting patrols and operations, Esscom chased away 1,890 illegal immigrants and 294 vessels which had tried encroaching into Malaysian waters.
Also present at the event was Kukusan assemblyman Datuk Rina Jainal.
Esscom, an integrated multi-agency defence arrangement, was set up in 2013 after gunmen linked to the self-proclaimed Sulu Sultanate intruded Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu on the east coast.
The body is tasked with securing Sabah’s east-coast borders against intrusion, kidnappings and other criminal activities.
