PETALING JAYA: An immigration operation around the coast of Kuala Selangor led to the detention of 20 foreigners who tried to enter the country illegally.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban (pic) said the operation, conducted on Thursday (May 7) in Telok Senangin, followed a three-week surveillance period.
"The team detected undocumented migrants near the Telok Senangin coastline and detained 20 Indonesian nationals, comprising nine men and 11 women aged between 19 and 59 years old.
"Initial checks found that some of those detained were on the department’s blacklist and suspicious persons list, and were not permitted to enter the country," he said in a statement on Friday (May 8).
He added that the syndicate behind their attempted entry is believed to smuggle immigrants into the country via illegal sea routes, and that its agents are based in Tanjung Balai, Indonesia.
"The syndicate used fishing boats to avoid detection by authorities.
"The migrants landing along the coastline would then be transported by land vehicles to predetermined destinations.
"The syndicate charged RM1,500 per person, per trip," he said.
He added that the department will intensify efforts to detect and stop any and all migrant smuggling operations to ensure the nation's sovereignty and security remain protected.
