KOTA TINGGI: The Malaysian Armed Forces caught 16 Indonesian illegal immigrants during Ops Benteng patrols on Monday (Nov 8) within areas under the jurisdiction of the Seventh Division Malaysian Infantry.

       The officers-in-charge of an observation post detected sounds coming from a boat at around 1am Monday near the estuary of Pulau Kerengga in Teluk Ramunia near here.

       “Illegal immigrants were spotted getting off a boat and heading to shore," the Third Division Malaysian Infantry said in a statement.

       Acting on intelligence and information gathered, a Quick Reaction Force team was deployed to the scene and the illegal immigrants were detained at around 1.20am.

       The suspects, three women and 13 men aged from 19 to 46 years, are believed to have just entered the country illegally.

       The team also seized RM2,925 and 15,184,420 Indonesian Rupiah (RM1,503.94) in cash, mobile phones and watches with a total value of RM12,000.

       All suspects were taken to the Tanjung Sepang tactical headquarters and Covid-19 tests were carried out on them before they were handed over to the Immigration Department in Setia Tropika.

       A police report has been lodged at the Bayu Damai police station in Pengerang, Kota Tinggi.

       The statement said the QRF team together with the drone team of the Intelligence Staff Division (BSPP) assisted by the Navy continued patrol the area where the suspects were arrested.