Selangor MMEA detain 13 Indonesian illegals in two separate arrests

The Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 13 Indonesian illegal immigrants including the boat skippers in two separate arrests in the waters off Selangor near here early yesterday.

Selangor MMEA director Capt Maritime Mohd Rosli Abdullah said all the illegals were arrested on board a barter trade boat and a local fishing boat about 11 nautical miles from Pulau Pintu Gedung here.

"Upon inspection of the barter trade boat at about 7 am, eight Indonesian men, including the skipper, aged between 21 to 54 years, were found without any personal identification documents besides possessing expired visas.

"In the other boat that was detained at 7.20 am, a skipper and four Indonesian men, who are also the crew, aged between 20 and 50 years, have violated the terms of the license and do not have any valid identification documents," he said in a statement here.

He said all 13 suspects were brought to the Selangor Maritime jetty for further investigation under Section 5 (1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, Fisheries Act 1985 and Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

Subsequently, Mohd Rosli said MMEA would intensify enforcement operations to curb illegals who use illegal skippers to exit and enter the country by sea.

The public with any complaints or aware of emergency cases at sea are asked to channel information to phoneline MERS 999 or contact the nearest maritime operation centre.