BATU PAHAT: Nine Indonesian undocumented immigrants were detained as they attempted to return to their home country by boat at Sungai Sanglang, Benut, here, last night.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officers spotted the fibreglass boat during a routine patrol and intercepted it 1.2 nautical miles south of Sungai Sanglang at 10:30 p.m.
MMEA Batu Pahat Zone director, Maritime Commander Mohd Haniff Mohd Yunus, said that upon inspection, they found seven men and two women, aged between 24 and 51.
"Neither the boat operator nor the passengers could produce valid identification or travel documents. Initial investigations revealed that the group was attempting to exit Malaysian waters and head towards Batam, Indonesia," he said in a statement today.
The boat and the detained immigrants were escorted to the Batu Pahat Maritime Zone jetty to facilitate investigations under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and the Immigration Act 1963.