KOTA KINABALU: The armed forces yesterday foiled an attempt by two Indonesian men to illegally enter Sabah for the second time.
The men aged 35 and 46 were caught crossing the border through an illegal route from Indonesia at about 4pm.
Their movements were detected by the army's SERKAP (attack and arrest) team who were patrolling in Ops Benteng in Serudong, Tawau.
The Fifth Infantry Division said one of the illegal immigrants fled towards Indonesia when the team stopped them. The other man was detained and interrogated.
"However, the escaped individual was later arrested at 9pm when the SERKAP team was waiting for vehicle support.
"Based on our investigations, both illegal immigrants had been detained before. They had been deported to their home country on April 12 this year," it said in a statement today.
The Fifth Infantry Division said the duo had tried to re-enter Sabah to work at a plantation in Kalabakan.
It said no prohibited goods were brought in by the men except for their personal items during the arrest.
"Both individuals and the seized items were handed over to the Kalabakan police station for further action," it said.