KUALA SELANGOR: A total of 34 foreigners including 17 women have been detained under Ops Benteng in Jeram waters here.

       Penang Region One Marine Police commander Asst Comm Shamsol Kassim said police received information about a boat ferrying undocumented immigrants off Pulau Angsa at about 2.45am on Monday (Sept 6).

       "Two patrol boats were dispatched to the location to track down and stop the boat," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Sept 7).

       Marine Police located the boat at about 3.15am in Jeram waters, he added.

       "We managed to stop the boat after a 15-minute chase.

       "We believe the boat's captain jumped overboard before we boarded the boat," he said.

       ACP Shamsol said the 34 undocumented immigrants comprised 32 Indonesians and two Myanmar nationals.

       "Initial investigations revealed that they were at sea for three days before approaching the beach at Selangor.

       "They were waiting for orders from agents on shore before approaching the landing zone," he added.

       The immigrants told police they paid the smugglers 3mil Rupiah (RM877) each for passage to enter Malaysia, said ACP Shamsol.

       "The boat came from Tanjung Balai, Asahan in Indonesia.

       "Most of the immigrants have worked in Malaysia before, while some came to meet their family members," he said.

       Four of those detained tested positive for Covid-19, he added.