LUNDU: A joint army patrol foiled two attempts by 27 foreigners to enter Sarawak illegally for work today (June 23).
The first group of six men and a woman were caught at 12.10pm, while the second group involving 20 men were busted at 1.45pm.
The First Infantry Division said a team of Malaysian and Indonesian soldiers encountered the groups in Biawak, walking from the Indonesia border into the state.
All of them, aged between 18 and 56, were detained for inspection after entering the country via illegal routes, about 100m and 118m from the border.
“Further questioning found that both groups were on their way to work in the plantation sector in Sarawak.
“Inspection did not find any prohibited or dangerous items among the foreigners’ possessions except a sum of cash, phones, wallets and clothes with a total value of RM29,430,” it said.
The foreigners were later escorted to the state’s border to be deported back to Indonesia.
From Jan 1 until June 23 this year, the army has seen to 15 deportations involving 98 foreigners.
