SANDAKAN: An integrated enforcement operation involving 263 personnel uncovered offences and enforcement actions valued at RM433,077 that led to the detention of 25 undocumented migrants here.
The operation, coordinated by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) on Wednesday and Thursday (July 29 and 30), covered squatter settlements around Jalan Istana, Kampung Tabah Baru and Kampung Karamunting, as well as Sandakan town.
The detainees comprised 21 Filipinos and four Indonesians who failed to produce valid travel documents. They were handed over to the Immigration Department for further action.
Customs officers seized contraband cigarettes worth RM20,000, while Sabah Electricity confiscated 300kg of cables used for illegal electricity connections, valued at RM15,000.
Sabah Electricity estimated that the illegal connections caused about RM300,000 in lost revenue annually.
Esscom land operations division chief of staff Senior Asst Comm Datuk Habibi Majinji said some of the illegal wiring had been installed across pathways used by residents, including schoolchildren.
"The connections did not comply with Sabah Electricity specifications and posed a danger to the surrounding community.
"Children use these routes to go to school in the morning. Leaving the wiring there could endanger residents," he said when met during the operation on Thursday.
He added that some locations were identified through information from the public and subsequently assessed through intelligence gathering.
SAC Habibi urged the public to continue serving as Esscom's eyes and ears by reporting suspicious activities on land, at sea or in the air.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry also seized 1,105kg of subsidised cooking oil worth RM2,762 and a vehicle valued at RM20,049.
The Sandakan Municipal Council seized RM6,500 worth of goods sold without licences and issued a RM300 compound notice.
Police arrested two men and seized 0.07g of a substance believed to be syabu, while the Sabah Wildlife Department confiscated 1,550 turtle eggs estimated to be worth RM7,750.
Meanwhile, the Labour Department opened 20 compound investigation papers, issued nine notices and ordered the immediate payment of RM116 in minimum-wage arrears. Its enforcement action was valued at RM60,116.
The Sabah Water Department also issued two notices over illegal water connections, involving compounds totalling RM600.
Meanwhile, Esscom commander Deputy Comm Datuk Victor B. Sanjos said in a statement the offences showed that threats in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) extended beyond cross-border crime and undocumented migration.
He said they also included smuggling, subsidy abuse, illegal utility connections, employment offences and the exploitation of protected wildlife.
Esscom would continue intelligence-led integrated operations under its "No Day Without Operations" approach, he added.
The public may report suspicious activities in the Esszone to the Esscom Operations Centre at 089-863181 or via WhatsApp at 011-63311072.
