A
Admiral Piett
Guest
Jan 11, 2011
2 human smugglers and 5 illegal immigrants arrested
Two human smugglers who attempted to sneak five illegal immigrants into Singapore on Monday morning were arrested by the Police Coast Guard (PCG). -- ST PHOTO
TWO human smugglers who attempted to sneak five illegal immigrants into Singapore on Monday morning were arrested by the Police Coast Guard (PCG).
A PCG officer spotted an unlit vessel moving towards the shorelines of Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve at 5.35am. Five people were later seen disembarking and running towards the nature reserve.
The boatman and his assistant then steered their boat towards Malaysia territorial waters but made a U-turn to the shore after spotting PCG patrol boats converging on them. They beached at the shore, and also ran towards the nature reserve.
All seven were eventually caught in a joint operation involving the PCG's Coastal Security Patrol Force, Jurong Police Division, Special Operations Command and the Gurhka Contingent
Of the seven people, five were female illegal immigrants from China between 32 and 54 years, while the boatman and his assistant were Malaysians, aged 54 and 21 respectively.
All seven suspects were not in possession of any valid travel documents and will be charged in court on Wednesday for unlawful entry. The boatman and his assistant will also face five additional counts of smuggling illegal immigrants.
