KOTA BARU: The General Operations Force (GOF) detained 20 illegal immigrants in three separate raids through Ops Taring Wawasan Kelantan on Wednesday (Aug 13) and Thursday.
Southeast Brigade GOF commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said that the first two raids were conducted in Machang by the 8th Battalion on Wednesday, where they detained 11 illegal immigrants from Pakistan, including two Pakistani men believed to be the leaders.
He added that in the first raid, conducted on the Machang-Kuala Krai Bypass Highway at 9.30pm, they detained a vehicle carrying six Pakistani men.
"The driver possessed a valid passport, but the other five had expired passports and no valid entry stamp.
"About 40 minutes later, we detained five Pakistani men, including the driver with an expired passport, while the four passengers had no valid entry stamp," he said in a statement on Friday.
Nik Roshan Azhan said both drivers, aged 31 and 32, were detained under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007 while all 11 passengers were held under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1059/63.
In the third raid at 6.45am on Thursday, the GOF detained nine migrants in a forest near Kampung Kubang Pak Hitam, Pasir Mas.
He said the nine Myanmar nationals - seven men and two women - did not have any valid identification documents, and were taken to the Pasir Mas Police Headquarters for investigation under the same acts. - Bernama
