They were arrested around 6.30am yesterday when the boat they were in ran aground while fleeing from marine police.

Region 1 marine police commander Shamsol Kassim said the arrests were made during an operation carried out to check migrant smuggling activities through sea routes, adding that none of the migrants had valid documents when they were inspected.

“Based on earlier information, the migrants had each paid an agent in Indonesia RM1,200 to RM1,500 to be taken to Malaysia,” Shamsol said in a statement today.

He also said the boat captain and the crew members were handed over to the district criminal investigation department for further investigations under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 and the Immigration Act 1959/63.