12 illegal migrants, boat skipper held in Tawau

KOTA KINABALU: In the Tawau district, maritime officials were able to apprehend a boat skipper who tried to escape arrest by jumping into the sea. The skipper, a 32-year-old undocumented Indonesian, was captured alongside 12 others during an operation on Tuesday morning, according to Tawau Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director Capt Shahrizan Raman. Before the arrest, MMEA officials had been conducting patrols when they observed a speeding boat near the Tawau CIQ jetty. “We noticed the passenger boat at around 10.30am and when our men approached, it started speeding away,” said Capt Shahrizan, in a statement released yesterday. When ordered to stop for inspection, the skipper halted the boat and jumped overboard into the sea, but the MMEA officials managed to pursue and apprehend him. To report any maritime misconduct or suspicious activities, the public is encouraged to contact 089-752 116 or dial the emergency number 999.