Johor police arrest nine Indonesians attempting to return to Batam through an illegal sea route.

Johor police arrest nine Indonesians attempting to return to Batam through an illegal sea route.

JOHOR BAHRU, Dec 13 — Nine Indonesian men, including three tekong (boat handlers), were arrested while attempting to leave Malaysia illegally via the waters of Sungai Rengit near Kota Tinggi two days ago.

Local
Local

JOHOR BAHRU, Dec 13 — Nine Indonesian men, including three tekong (boat handlers), were arrested while attempting to leave Malaysia illegally via the waters of Sungai Rengit near Kota Tinggi two days ago.

Johor police chief CP Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the men, aged between 22 and 52, were detained by Region Two Marine Police during Op Taring Gelora, carried out between 6.50pm and 8.30pm. The group was travelling in three boats.

He said the vessels were intercepted after they were spotted acting suspiciously, and further checks revealed that the three skippers were transporting passengers to and from Batam.

“The remaining six individuals admitted they were passengers trying to return to Batam,” he said in a statement.

Authorities also seized two wooden boats and a fibreglass boat, along with two Yamaha outboard engines and a Suzuki 100-horsepower outboard engine, with a total estimated value of RM435,785.

All nine suspects were taken to the Region Two Marine Police Tactical Headquarters in Pengerang for documentation and further action.

The case is being investigated under Section 5(2) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007. Members of the public with information on criminal activities are urged to contact the nearest police station or the Johor Police Control Centre at 07-221 2999. — Bernama

A wooden boat and an outboard engine seized by marine police following the arrest of nine Indonesians in Sungai Rengit, near Kota Tinggi, on Thursday. — Picture via Facebook/Polis Johor

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