LANGKAWI, April 5 -- A boat with 202 illegal immigrants, believed to be Rohingyas, was detained near a beach resort in Jalan Pantai Kok, Teluk Nibung, Langkawi here this morning.
Kedah and Perlis Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) deputy operations director Maritime Captain Zulinda Ramly said the boat was detained 1.2 nautical miles southwest at about 8.45 am.
“The boat was found to have 202 people, comprising 152 men, 45 women, four boys and a girl. They have all been detained and taken to the Kedah and Perlis MMEA lock-up in Bukit Malut this afternoon and they will be handed over to the Immigration Department for entering the country illegally,” she said in a statement today.
Zulinda said all MMEA personnel involved in the case took stringent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection among the illegal immigrants.
“The Kedah and Perlis MMEA is investigating reports from the immigrants regarding the boat skipper and his three crewmen, who are believed to have escaped while at sea.”
The four are suspected to be members of a syndicate smuggling in immigrants.
“Any complaints and emergencies at sea can be reported via the MERS 999 and to the Kedah and Perlis (Langkawi) Maritime Operations Centre at 04-9662750 or 04-966 5307,” she said.
-- BERNAMA
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