20 undocumented migrants detained in separate Kelantan maritime operations
PASIR PUTEH: The cover of darkness may have helped migrant smugglers evade a maritime patrol boat, but their movements along Sungai Kelantan eventually led enforcement officers to 20 foreigners believed to have entered the country illegally.
PASIR PUTEH: In a series of nighttime maritime operations, Malaysian authorities intercepted 20 foreign nationals suspected of entering the country illegally. In a series of maritime operations in Kelantan, Malaysian authorities intercepted 20 foreigners believed to have entered Malaysia illegally. The Kelantan Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) conducted two separate operations targeting unauthorized routes along the river for migrant smuggling.
The first operation on August 12th saw four men detained after a suspicious speedboat was spotted off Kuala Besar during an early morning patrol. Despite escaping into a narrow river channel, the team followed the trail to the riverbank and arrested the four men, all between the ages of 35 and 48. Three were Indian nationals, and one was Sri Lankan, with only one having a valid travel document.
On August 14th, another speedboat was detected, leading to the arrest of 16 more foreigners, comprising eight Indonesians and six Myanmar nationals. Similar to the previous operation, the suspects attempted to evade capture by navigating through shallow river sections, prompting a ground search near Tendong, Pasir Mas. Ten of the 16 had passports but could not provide valid travel records, while the remaining six had no identification documents.
The 20 individuals are believed to have entered Malaysia through unauthorized means and are currently being processed at the agency's headquarters in Kelantan under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
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