LAHAD DATU: September 2, 2026 – A total of 172 illegal immigrants (PATI) from the Philippines have been repatriated to their home country under the sea transfer programme of the Sabah Immigration Department.
The group comprised 129 adult males, 25 adult females, eight male children, and 10 female children, aged between one and 63 years old. The children were accompanied by their parents or guardians throughout the process.
All detainees, who were held at the Tawau Immigration Depot, were transferred via the Lahad Datu ICQS (Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security) complex to Bongao Port in the Philippines using a commercial ferry.
To date, a total of 4,947 illegal immigrants have been repatriated to their respective countries of origin, involving 3,197 Filipinos, 1,471 Indonesians, 120 Pakistanis, 116 Chinese nationals, 21 Vietnamese, and 22 others of various nationalities.
According to the Sabah Immigration Department, all detainees had completed their sentences and possessed valid travel documents. The public is urged not to harbour or employ illegal immigrants and to report any such activities through the department’s official channels.
Source: Sabah State Immigration Department
