KOTA KINABALU: General Operations Force (GOF) personnel foiled an attempt by 29 undocumented migrants who were trying to enter Sabah’s east coast Semporna district.

       The GOF spotted four speedboats transporting the people aged two to 60, in an operation dubbed Op Taring at waters off Mataking Island at 8am on Saturday (May 7).

       Sabah GOF Brigade commander Senior Asst Comm Abdul Rani Alias said his men managed to intercept the boats which had come in from the Philippines.

       "After stopping the boats, we found the skippers, as well as the passengers, did not have any valid personal documents," he said when contacted on Monday (May 9).

       "All the individuals confessed they were Filipinos who wanted to enter Semporna."

       SAC Abdul Rani said his men subsequently told the skippers to head back to the Philippines, escorting the boats until they left the country’s borders.

       He said they also gave a stern warning to the individuals not to enter the country illegally again.