125 illegals detained in Sandakan blitz
Published on: Sun, Jul 27, 2025
By: Winnie Kasmir Text Size: Some of the illegal immigrants detained. SANDAKAN: Some 125 undocumented immigrants were detained in a joint operation led by the State Immigration Department in several areas here. The operation from 1am to 7am on Friday involved 54 officers from various Immigration enforcement divisions in Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Ranau and Kota Kinabalu. Sabah Immigration Director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the coordinated effort targeted high-risk areas identified through public tip-offs and intelligence gathering. 'Officers screened a total of 212 individuals at various locations. Of these, 125 were found to be undocumented migrants involved in multiple immigration offences. 'Those detained include 35 adult men, 34 adult women, 27 boys and 29 girls. All were taken to the Sandakan Immigration Depot for documentation and further investigation,' she told a press conference. Among the violations identified were failure to present valid identification documents under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and overstaying beyond the permitted duration under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act. The operation is part of the department's ongoing efforts to enforce laws under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966, Immigration Regulations 1963 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Atiosom). The department reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on illegal immigrants and maintaining national security. Sh Sitti Saleha also reminded all employers not to hire or shelter undocumented migrants. 'Stern action will be taken against any individual found guilty of aiding or employing foreign nationals without valid documents,' said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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