Nineteen illegals nabbed trying to enter Lahad Datu

SANDAKAN - Nineteen illegal immigrants from the Philippines were detained while trying to enter Sabah at the Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu, the flashpoint of Sulu gunmen clash with military forces in February.

Eastern Sabah Security Command director-general (Esscom) Datuk Mohammad Mentek said the group, comprising seven men, four women and eight children, arrived in a boat at 8.45pm Wednesday.

He said the group was detained by security forces who were involved in Ops Gasak which was initiated by Esscom since Dec 1.

Mohammad Mentek said initial investigations revealed that the boat carrying the illegal immigrants was heading to Sinakut, a zone in Labian, Felda Sahabat.

"The illegal immigrants were detained after receiving information from the public," he told reporters after opening a workshop on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the security of the Tourism Industry in Sabah, here.

Mohammad Mentek said Ops Gasak was launched to improve security around the East Sabah Security Zone (Esszone). - Bernama