KOTA KINABALU: Ten undocumented people were nabbed during a raid against illegal immigrants in Tawau on Thursday midnight.

       The operation dubbed Ops Cegah Pati was conducted by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).

       Esscom commander DCP Datuk Ahmad Fuad Othman said the 10 comprising two men, six women and two children were discovered and later arrested when they were hiding in between bushes along Jalan Pantai Tawau Lama at about 12.10am.

       “Our men were carrying out their operations when they saw some suspicious movements in the bushes and went to investigate.

       “There, they found the suspects aged between six months and 54 years old, all undocumented Indonesians,” he said.

       DCP Ahmad said the suspects were believed to be planning to return to their hometown using uncharted routes.

       He said they were waiting for their boat to arrive to take them home when they were nabbed.

       All suspects were taken to the Tawau police station for further investigation.

       They will be investigated under the Immigrations Act.

       DCP Ahmad said their operations against illegal immigrants and other crimes are conducted continuously.