KOTA KINABALU: Thirty-two people, including children, who claimed to be Malaysians were nabbed by Indonesian security forces at waters off Kalimantan Timur, early this week.
Thirteen of them were men, eight women, and 11 children.
The security forces spotted them onboard 10 boats in waters at Pulau Derawan to Pulau Panjang, Berau.
The passengers claimed to have come from Kampung Bangau-Bangau in Semporna, Sabah.
Berau Regency fisheries and marine monitoring chief officer Budi Hariyanto said the authorities were unable to confirm the passengers' identities as they did not have documents.
"They only claimed to be from Kampung Bangau-Bangau and were here to fish. They have been referred to the Indonesian immigration for further action."
It is learnt that the Indonesian Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry had issued a letter on that matter to the Malaysian Embassy in Indonesia.