Two Indonesian men arrested for illegally entering Singapore by motorised sampan
Both men were arrested within seven hours from time of detection, as they were spotted landing near Tanah Merah Canal entrance
SINGAPORE — Two Indonesian men, aged 36 and 33, were arrested on Monday (20 November) for unlawful entry into Singapore by sea.
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) said in a news release that an unknown fast-moving craft was detected by the Police Coast Guard’s (PCG) surveillance system at 11.58pm on Sunday. It was heading towards the Tanah Merah Coast Road shoreline, and veered away from floating sea barriers deployed at the entrance of Tanah Merah Canal, before landing at the nearby coastline.
The two men were arrested by officers from PCG, Bedok Police Division, the Gurkha Contingent and the Special Operations Command, after they disembarked from the craft within seven hours from the time of detection. They were allegedly found without any valid travel documents.
A five-metre-long fibreglass sampan, fitted with one outboard motor, was also seized.
The two men will be charged in court on Tuesday for the offence of unlawful entry into Singapore. They could face a maximum jail term of six months and at least three strokes of the cane.
The police said it will continue to take firm action against such offenders to "safeguard our waters and sea borders against crime and security threats, which includes unauthorised entry into and departure from Singapore."
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