Teens caught in Lundu for allegedly acting as ground coordinators for illegal immigrants

Police personnel are seen with the teenagers and illegal immigrants.

LUNDU (July 2): Police arrested two teenagers at Jalan Lundu-Sempadi, here on Thursday on suspicion of trying to smuggle in four Indonesian men.

Lundu police chief DSP Damataries Lautin said the two suspects, aged 17 and 18, were detained when the car they were travelling in was stopped for an inspection at a roadblock around 11.30am.

He said during the check, police found four Indonesian male passengers in the back seat.

“After inspection, it was found that the driver and front passenger were locals and the four rear passengers were Indonesian citizens.

“Further examination found that the four Indonesians involved did not have any valid travel documents,” Damataries said in a statement today.

He said further investigation found that the two teenagers acted as tekong darat (ground coordinators) to bring the four illegal immigrants from Lundu to Kuching.

“The illegal immigrants are believed to have entered the state through illegal routes to find employment in Kuching,” he said.

All the arrested suspects were then taken to Lundu Hospital for Covid-19 tests and were confirmed negative.

Damataries said the two teenagers will be detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Bill 2012 for 28 days.

He said the investigation will be conducted under Section 26J of the AntiTrafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

The Section provides for up to 15 years in prison, a fine, or both upon conviction.

The four illegal immigrants have been remanded for 18 days for further investigation under Section 6 (1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

“Operations to curb the entry of foreigners will continue to be tightened to control illegal entry,” Damataries added.

from Borneo Post Online https://bit.ly/3xbiYs0
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