The presence of security forces in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) helps instil fear among human traffickers, hence forcing them to increase the cost of bringing in the immigrants into the state illegally, says Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCom) commander Datuk Abdul Rashid Harun.

Despite facing challenges and difficulties to pass through the authorities in the involved areas, he did not deny the smugglers' determination to bring in illegal immigrants to gain more profit.

"There is no doubt that some escaped capture by us. But seeing how hard it is to watch over the 1,733.7km coastline from Kudat to Tawau, there is no reason for ESScom not to carry out its duties and responsibilities," he said.

Abdul Rashid said this while delivering a talk, 'National Security from the ESSCom Experiences' at the Sustainability on National Security Seminar which was officiated by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin at the Sabah National Institute of Public Administration here Wednesday.

He believed the rate of human trafficking activities using ESSZone from neighbouring countries was currently RM370 per person, as compared to RM120 previously.

He said a total of 361 islands located in the east coast were also under the ESSComm and other security agencies' responsibility, to prevent and curb other smuggling activities.

He added smuggling was the main internal threat in ESSZone.