By: Nurul Fazliana Norman
LUMUT: Sept 21, 2026 — The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained an unregistered Indonesian wooden vessel carrying 36 Indonesians suspected of being illegal immigrants through an illegal sea route about 9.4 nautical miles southwest of the mouth of Sungai Belukang, Perak, on Sept 18.
The Perak State MMEA headquarters made the detention in a follow-up operation based on intelligence on migrant smuggling activities in the area.
The vessel was detected during surveillance before it was intercepted for inspection.
Inspection found 36 individuals comprising three crew members including the skipper and 33 passengers aged between two and 57. Two were pregnant women, while three children involved one boy and two girls.
Further inspection found passports, Indonesian identity cards and their luggage.
They are suspected of committing an offence under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not using valid exit or entry routes into Malaysia.
The case is being investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Act 2007.
The detainees and the vessel were brought to the jetty before being handed over to the MMEA investigating officer for further investigation.
The Perak MMEA will step up patrols, surveillance and enforcement to curb illegal cross-border activities, including migrant smuggling and the movement of individuals through illegal routes.
Source: Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
