EIGHTY-FOUR undocumented migrants who entered the country have been arrested since the movement control order started on March 18, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said the police and the army have increased patrols at hotspot routes used by syndicates to smuggle migrants.

“So far, 84 undocumented migrants have been detained since the movement control order was imposed. We have identified the routes used by the syndicates, whether in the peninsula or in Sabah and Sarawak.

“The police and the army are securing the areas and have increased patrols along suspected routes,” he said at his daily press conference in Putrajaya.

Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador on April 2 said police would increase patrols and personnel at land and sea borders to prevent undocumented migrants from entering the country illegally.

He had said 2,500 officers were deployed to patrol the nation’s borders.

“We will increase enforcement by 100% to carry out our duty in the said areas in line with the Health Ministry’s comments on the dangers of a third wave from outsiders coming in.

“We suspect that it is easy for the virus to be transmitted by illegal immigrants that come in via tunnel routes.

“Their presence here without proper screening and check-up is a serious threat.” – April 25, 2020.