KOTA BARU: A local man suspected of being a "tekong darat" (ground coordinator) has been arrested together with 20 illegal immigrants at Kampung Banggol Chica in Pasir Mas near here.

       Pasir Mas police chief Asst Comm Mohd Nasaruddin M Nasir said the group's movement was detected at 6.15am on Sunday (May 8) when members of a mobile patrol vehicle unit spotted a van at Kampung Lubuk Kawah, Pasir Mas.

       He said police ordered the driver of the van to stop but he sped off.

       "After a chase that stretched 7km, the van driver seemed to lose his way and stopped by the roadside at Kampung Banggol Chica, Pasir Mas at 6.30am.

       "The arrested immigrants were Myanmar nationals comprising 17 men and three women aged between 17 and 40.

       "All of them are suspected of entering the country illegally through illegal (routes) on the Malaysia-Thailand border," he said in a statement. – Bernama