Border patrol thwarts illegal entry at Tebedu border

TEBEDU: Four foreigners, including a woman, have been ordered to return back to their country of origin after being caught entering Sarawak illegally yesterday (Sept 14).

The First Infantry Division said that a team of Malaysian and Indonesian soldiers encountered the group around 10.30 am in Tebedu.

“All of them, aged between 22 and 32, were detained for inspections after entering the country via an illegal route, about 150 metres from the border.

“Examinations did not find any prohibited or dangerous items in the foreigners’ possessions except a sum of cash, phones, wallets and clothes with a total value of RM4,037,” the division said.

Following the checks, the foreigners were escorted to the state’s border to be deported back to Indonesia.

Since January, the army had carried out 24 deportations involving 172 foreigners, and have reiterated their commitment to tighten border control and safeguard the state’s sovereignty from illegal entries and cross-border crimes.