RANTAU PANJANG: The General Operations Force (GOF) detained 23 immigrants at Kertas illegal jetty here yesterday.
GOF Seventh Battalion commanding officer Superintendent Azhari Nusi said the Myanmar nationals, including two women, were just leaving the jetty when they were arrested at about 1.45pm.
"Several GOF officers were on their routine duty along the area when they spotted a Naza Ria car suspected of carrying illegal immigrants.
"The officers ordered the car driver to stop but he refused and sped off. He then lost control of the car, which skidded into the bush nearby," he told reporters, adding that car driver then escaped on foot.
He added that officers found 21 Myanmar men and two women inside the vehicle.
"Initial investigations showed the immigrants were brought into the country via Sungai Golok. They had no travel documents.
"We also believe the immigrants were kept at transit points in Kota Baru before being sent to Perak in stages either via bus or train to work in several sectors," he told reporters.