KOTA KINABALU: An extensive offense, targeting people operating pump boats and illegal immigrants, was held in two districts in the east coast of Sabah yesterday.
Led by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), 17 pump boats and five people were detained in the two operations, Operasi Gasak Laut Pambot and Operasi Bersepadu, held in Semporna and Kunak.
The focus in the extensive swoop was on pump boats, small vessels propelled by modified motorised water pumps, known to be used by criminals to escape the authorities in shallow waters.
The operation which involved the police, armed forces along with state and federal enforcement agencies, also targeted illegal immigrants, robbers, those involved in smuggling activities, illegal fishing using homemade fishbombs and drug abuse.
Esscom commander Deputy Commissioner Datuk Victor Sanjos said the objective was to eliminate threats to the community across east coast districts under the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (Esszone).
"Esscom takes possible threats from cross border criminals seriously and we can do this by ensuring their mobility at sea is crippled by targeting illegally operated pump boats.
"At the same time we can also hinder smuggling activities and the entry of immigrants from neighbouring countries illegally," he said and noted it was pertinent for Esscom to be present or visible at staging points for criminal elements between Kunak and Semporna.
"A total of 210 officers from various organisations were involved in the task which saw some of them patrolling the coastline where there are routes known to be used among many to enter Semporna," he said, noting that three illegal immigrants from the Philippines were detained and handed over to the Immigration department.
Victor said 17 pump boats were also seized during the operation and one owner was apprehended for further investigations, while eventual demolition was to be carried out by the State Ports and Harbours department that issues permits for people to operate such vessels.
