JOHOR BARU: Marine police have nabbed 12 illegal immigrants while they were attempting to exit the country illegally near Sungai Tiram here.

Marine Police (PPM) Region 2 Commander Asst Comm Paul Khiu Khon Chiang said that nine Indonesian women and three Indonesian men, aged between 23 and 50, were detained at about 8.30pm on Tuesday (April 16).

He said the suspects were arrested after a 30-minute chase, adding that some of the Indonesians managed to escape by jumping off the boat and swimming to the nearest mangrove area.

"From Sungai Tiram, they tried to escape through Tanjung Langsat before they were detained near Kong Kong. Initial investigation found that they were trying to exit the country illegally," he said in a statement here on Wednesday (April 17).

ACP Khiu said those detained would be investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Amendment 2002).

He added that the marine police would double their effort to foil human trafficking attempts, especially in the upcoming fasting and Aidilfitri months.