Joint army patrol thwarts entry of four foreigners

LUNDU: Four Indonesian men have been ordered to return back to their country of origin after being caught entering Sarawak illegally yesterday (July 20).

The First Infantry Division said a team of Malaysian and Indonesian soldiers encountered the group walking from the Indonesia border into the state at 10.37am in Biawak.

“All of them, aged between 26 and 40, were detained for inspections after entering the country via an illegal route, about 150 metres from the border.

“Examinations also 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 RM7,977,” the division said.

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

The army assured that they are committed to tightened border control and safeguard the state’s sovereignty from any illegal entries or cross-border crimes.