KOTA KINABALU: Security forces have launched an exercise dubbed Operasi Maritim Khas Selatan Tawau to comb the area which has been identified as rat trails.

       Coordinated by the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom), the operation entailed air and maritime surveillance on waters and coastal areas south of the district including at Pulau Sebatik which shares a border with Indonesia.

       Esscom commander Deputy Comm Hamzah Ahmad said rat trails could be potentially used by smugglers, cross-border criminals and undocumented migrants to travel to and from Sabah.

       “The security forces must prevent these foreign elements from carrying out their activities which can threaten the public’s safety as well as affect the country’s economy.

       “Our presence has managed to deter undocumented people who could also be involved in cross-border crimes and smuggling from coming in,” he said, in a statement on Saturday (June 11).

       DCP Hamzah said the operation was simultaneously held to enforce the curfew order in the Eastern Sabah Zone (Esszone).

       “This is to prevent infiltration by terrorist cells like the Abu Sayyaf Group as well as kidnap-for-ransom groups.

       “The operation involves security officers and personnel from the marine police, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Joint Task Force 2, Tawau police, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs enforcement team and the Sabah Ports and Harbour Department,” he said.

       DCP Hamzah added that more joint operations would be carried out by the respective security and enforcement agencies to check any activity by criminal groups or illegal immigrants in the Esszone.

       He also warned that stern action would be taken against any individual or group found involved in cross-border crimes in the Esszone.

       The public may channel any information they have on such activities by calling the Esscom operations centre at 089-863 181 or contacting them through the WhatsApp number at 011-63311072.