Authorities intercept boat carrying Rohingya refugees, 269 arrested

A boat carrying 270 Rohingyas was intercepted off Langkawi by marine police and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) this morning.

Upon interception, 53 Rohingyas jumped into the sea in an attempt to evade the authorities, but they were captured by MMEA officers on land.

Officers boarding the boat found another 216 Rohingyas and a dead woman.

In a statement today, the National Task Force said the boat was damaged purposely and the engine was beyond repair.

Due to the damaged engine, the authorities were not able to immediately deport the refugees, the statement read.

"Under humanitarian grounds, the National Security Agency allowed the boat to be towed to the Teluk Ewa jetty.

"All 269 detainees were arrested and placed at Kem Bina Negara Wawasan in Langkawi.

"The deceased was handed over to the police," the statement said.

Earlier, Malay daily Harian Metro quoted a source as saying that the detainees include 80 men, 138 women, 26 boys, and 23 girls.

They were said to have sailed for almost four months from the refugee camp Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh.

Until June 7, the National Task Force which comprised of the armed forces, the police, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, and several other agencies had arrested 396 undocumented immigrants, 108 tekongs (boat handlers), and 11 traffickers.

A total of 140 undocumented immigrants, six tekongs, and 22 boats were driven off from Malaysian waters. - Mkini

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