KOTA KINABALU: Twenty-nine people have been detained for various offences in an operation spearheaded by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in the east coast Beluran district.
The three-day operation at Sapi Nangoh that ended on Saturday also involved various state and federal agencies.
Esscom Commander Deputy Comm Datuk Victor Sanjos said 1,076 people were screened and 512 vehicles checked.
“From the screening, we arrested 11 Filipinos and Indonesians for various immigration offences,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
“The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry also arrested two people and seized a four-wheel drive vehicle on suspicion of transporting 600 litres of diesel without a permit,” he added.
Seven people, said DCP Sanjos, were detained after they tested positive for methamphetamine, adding two others were hauled in for possession of drugs.
“We also held seven people for possession of 1,135 cartons of cigarettes under the Customs Act 1967,” he said.
DCP Sanjos said the operation was aimed at curbing the smuggling of controlled goods, crime prevention and detecting the entry of undocumented migrants on main roads connecting the state’s west and east coasts.
“This included laluan-laluan tikus (rat trails) which we have identified are being used by criminals in Beluran ... to help make the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone) a safer place,” he said.
DCP Sanjos also urged the public to help the authorities by reporting any incident or anything suspicious to the Esscom operations centre at 089-863181 or WhatsApp to 011-63311072.
