LIMBANG: A human trafficking attempt involving 10 foreigners, was swiftly thwarted by the marine police last Saturday (Apr 12).
Sarawak Marine Police Region 5 commander ACP Ab Rahman Mat Hasan said the group, comprising seven men and three women, was being transported by two local men on a fibreglass boat.
The attempt was intercepted at Limbang River by a marine police patrol unit conducting Op Taring Landai at 11.38 am.
“Inspections found that none of the foreigners had valid travel documents. All of them, including the locals, were arrested on the spot.
“The suspects and the boat were taken to the Limbang Marine Police Tactical headquarters for further actions,” he said.
Ab Rahman said the locals are believed to have accepted payments to bring foreigners into Sarawak for work at oil palm plantations around Miri and Bintulu.
The group is said to have travelled from Sabah via illegal routes and arrived at Sundar, Lawas before being transported to Limbang by boat.
The case is being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007 and the Immigration Act 1959/63.
From Jan 1 to Apr 13 this year, the Sarawak Marine Police Region 5 has conducted 77 raids across Sarawak and arrested 78 individuals for various offences with seizures amounting to RM39.48 million.
