MUAR: Marine police have detained 196 illegal immigrants from Indonesia and seized 13 fast boats near Pengerang this year.
Southern region acting marine police chief Supt Paul Khiu said 12 tekong or skippers, including six Malaysians, were also arrested for co-operating with the immigrants.
He said the arrests and seizures of the high-powered vessels were carried out by an elite unit which patrolled the waters off Pengerang.
Pengerang is a hot landing spot for illegal immigrants from Indonesia as it is near the island of Bentan in Indonesia.
“We can see the island from Batu Puteh and it is believed to be a transit point for illegal immigrants from Indonesia to enter Johor,” he said during a visit to the marine police base here yesterday.
Supt Khiu said that with the ongoing operations off Pengerang by the elite team, those involved in smuggling in immigrants had changed tactics.
On the illegal dumping of mud along the coastal waters here by a company that engaged a contractor to deepen Sungai Muar, Supt Khiu said Muar marine police had been directed to monitor the activity.
“We have posted a unit from here which follows the barges to ensure the mud is dumped eight nautical miles off Pulau Undan.
“I was told that the barges have stopped moving along the shallow coastal waters between here and Sungai Kesang,” he added.
