Sabah MOF Commander ACP Mohammad Madon said the men, aged between 33 and 52, were detained about 7.07 pm in the Kampung Wakuba waters after they were found to be in the prohibited area under the curfew when the MOF personnel carried out an operation codenamed “Op Paradise”.

“The boat had left the Tawau port to return to its country of origin (the Philippines),” he said in a statement, here today.

He said further inspection on the skipper of the boat found that he could not furnish the police a permit to be in the curfew area during the time of detention.

The boat and the Filipinos were detained for investigation under Section 31 (2) 1967 for breaking the curfew.

The curfew in the ESSZone involves a distance of three nautical miles from the coasts of Tawau. Semporna, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran and is effective until April 17 starting from 7 pm until 5 am.

– BERNAMA