GOF READY TO COMBAT INTRUDERS IN SABAH WATERS

SANDAKAN (Malaysia), March 25 (Bernama) -- The presence of the General
Operations Forces (GOF) along the coastal areas of East Malaysia, especially
Sabah, has helped combat smuggling activities and prevent illegal immigrants
from entering the country.

GOF Batallion 15 Commanding Officer Supt Lee Mo Le said stationing GOF along
the coastal areas and islands in the Sabah waters through `Ops Tayang' has met
its objective.

Based on statistics from January last year to February this year, the GOF
Batallion 15 had detained 160 individuals for various offences like breaching
Immigration Laws, Customs Laws, illegal trading and illegal fishing activities.

"A majority of those arrested were illegal immigrants and those involved in
illegal fishing activities, using "fish bombs" or encroaching into Sabah waters
to catch fish," said Lee after inspecting a parade in conjunction with the 202nd
Police Day celebrations here Wednesday.

Lee said Batallion 15 GOF officers are stationed at most of the coastal
areas, islands, Sandakan, Kinabatangan and Beluran right from Sugud Beluran to
Kuala Sungai Kinabatangan.

He added that to dispense their duties more effectively, the Batallion 15
GOF are equipped with ski-jets and high powered patrol boats.

-- BERNAMA