KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah police have arrested 18 people after tailing a passenger-laden four-wheel drive vehicle near Tawau on Tuesday (Nov 16) night.

       Tawau Marine police operations commanding officer Deputy Supt Ridzauddin Selamat said that 17 of those arrested were undocumented migrants aged between six-months-old and 50-years-old.

       He added that it is believed that the 17 had just arrived from Indonesia on a boat.

       “They were fetched by a driver upon arrival,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Nov 17).

       He said the 31-year-old driver was asked to pull over at about 8.30pm when they reached a traffic light intersection, and added that all 17 immigrants were found cramped inside.

       It is unclear where they were headed to but it is believed they were on their way to a workers quarters.

       DSP Ridzauddin said all the suspects were brought to the Tawau marine base for investigations.

       The vehicle used was also seized following the arrest.

       “We are investigating this case under the Trafficking in Persons and the Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007,” he said.