Malaysia arrests over 20 illegal migrants

ANKARA

Malaysian police have arrested over a dozen illegal migrants from neighboring Philippines, local media reported on Wednesday.

According to Bernama news, a group of 16 Filipinos from the southern Philippines attempted to sneak into Malaysia on a boat in waters off Terusan Silapak in Malaysia’s southeastern town of Semporna.

Malaysian Marine Police had detected the boat’s movement from the neighboring country at 12.30 a.m. Wednesday (1630GMT on Tuesday).

The detained group included 10 men and six women aged 30 to 50.

Police are investigating case under Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act.

The report added that five men were held for not having valid documents in another operation in the village of Pulau Mabul near Semporna.

The detained persons are aged 22 to 53 and are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/1963.