SABAK BERNAM: In a desperate move to evade authorities during a raid at the Bagan Nakhoda Omar fishing village here this morning, six foreign fishermen plunged into a river, with some even staying submerged for almost an hour.
They were among 79 foreign nationals detained in a joint operation involving the police, the Immigration Department, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Selangor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN).
Selangor deputy police chief DCP Mohd Zaini Abu Hassan said the operation, which began yesterday (June 11) afternoon, also involved enforcement action in the Kuala Selangor district, where 125 individuals were checked.
He said the operation in the waters and coastal areas of Bagan Nakhoda Omar was carried out after the location was identified as a hotspot for migrant smuggling activities and various cross-border crimes.
He said the offences detected included employing and harbouring undocumented foreign nationals, failure to present valid travel documents, overstaying, misuse of visit passes, and illegal entry into the country.
"All those detained are aged between 18 and 60, comprising 69 men and 10 women.
"Police detained seven local men suspected of acting as smugglers and 28 foreign nationals who were found to have entered through illegal routes in the waters off Sabak Bernam,” he said at a press conference here today.
"The operation, which involved eight state-level security and enforcement agencies, also aimed to identify the modus operandi of illegal immigrants, as well as those believed to be behind the smuggling of foreign nationals into Selangor’s waters.
"During the operation at the village, two cases under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 involving diesel were also uncovered by Selangor KPDN,” he said.
Mohd Zaini said the joint operation will continue in phases and on an ongoing basis as a preventive and enforcement measure to ensure the safety of the waters and protect the country’s sovereignty.
He warned the public and employers against harbouring foreign nationals or engaging in cross-border criminal activities.
"Authorities also welcome members of the public to provide any information to the relevant agencies for further action as national security is a shared responsibility,” he added. - Bernama
