SANDAKAN: Marine police have thwarted an attempt by 46 Filipinos from the Philippine island of Cagayan close to the border with Sabah, to slip into Sandakan in a fishing boat.

A marine police boat intercepted a fishing boat which was heading towards Batu Putih near Mile 7 Jalan Airport at about 3.45am yesterday.

The marine police personnel then conducted a check on the passengers and the boat skipper and found they did not possess any valid documents.

Disclosing this yesterday, acting district marine police commanding officer Chief Inspector Sri Vikneswaran Renganathan said the fishing boat had just arrived in Sandakan from Cagayan Island when it was stopped by police.

“The boat was then escorted to the marine police base,” he said, adding that the foreigners would be referred to the Immigration Department for further action.

The detained Filipinos comprised 20 men, 14 women and 12 children, aged between 12 and 60.

Sri Vikneswaran said the boat was registered in Malaysia and that they were now investigating to determine if any local individual or agent was responsible for trying to bring these Filipinos into the country illegally.

He meanwhile appealed to the locals to contact the district marine police at 089 221423, 221424 or 221453 if they have any information on illegal activities in Sandakan waters.

On October 13 between 9pm and 11pm, marine cops nabbed 77 Filipinos trying to enter Sandakan in one pump boat and two jongkongs (long boats). (akhbar new sabah times)