SANDAKAN: The marine police have arrested 11 illegal immigrants and drivers of two vehicles that were ferrying them at Jalan IPS Batu Sapi, here today.
Sandakan Marine Police commanding officer Assistant Superintenden Mazre Che Mahmod said the two vehicles were spotted by a marine police team about 6am, while carrying out surveillance at Sungai Sebait, Mile 10 of the area.
The team noticed that they had just landed near a bridge and tailed them to an unnumbered house in the forest off Jalan IPS Batu Sapi.
"At about 7.30am, the team moved in and made the arrest.
"A four-wheel-drive vehicle with the driver, aged 27, and eight migrants, and a Proton Iswara driven by a 53-year-old Filipino with three migrants were detained.
"The police also confiscated a mobile phone and RM1,402 cash from the suspects. The value of the vehicles and items seized during the raid was estimated at RM83,402," he said.
Mazre said that the immigrants, aged between 15 to 64, are from Zamboanga City in the Philippines.
He said the two drivers have been detained for investigation under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670) while the immigrants are being probed under Section 6(1) (c) Immigration Act 1959/63.