SANDAKAN: Marine police arrested eight Filipinos after a short pursuit in waters off Mile 7 here, early this morning.
The foreigners, including a woman, were aged between 23 and 62. They were trying to sneak into the state when marine patrol personnel spotted two suspicious boats at 5.30am.
Sabah marine police commander Assistant Commissioner Mohd Yazib Abdul Aziz said they were from Pulau Bakungan Besar, Zamboanga and Basilan in the southern Philippines.
“The boats sped off when approached, prompting my men to chase them. During the pursuit, one of the boat skippers lost control of the boat, which got stranded in shallow waters.
“Several passengers were seen jumping into the sea and escaping into nearby mangroves,” he said, adding that police managed to arrest four people.
Mohd Yazib said another four foreigners were nabbed from the other boat. The marine team also seized the boats worth about RM32,000. All the foreigners were not carrying any identification papers or travel documents.
All detainees and seizure were taken to the Sandakan marine base for further action under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
