KOTA KINABALU: Four of six illegal immigrants who escaped from the Immigration Detention Depot (DTI) in Menggatal near here have been re-arrested.
The four Filipinos, aged between 20 and 40, were arrested by the authorities around a five-km radius from the area at about 8pm yesterday.
A source said the operation to track down the suspects involved the cooperation of police, K9 unit and the Malaysian Immigration Department Enforcement Team.
Two more illegal immigrants are still at large and a search operation for the two suspects is being carried out by security forces.
"All four suspects arrested have been sent to the Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters (IPD) lock-up," he said, adding that they would continue to look for the remaining escapees.
Meanwhile, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali when contacted confirmed the arrest of the four suspects.
He said the operation for two more suspects would be enhanced and would include assistance from the General Operations Force (GOF).
In yesterday's incident, six detainees escaped to allegedly celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
However, three of the detainees were re-arrested inside the fenced area by Immigration Department officers.