PONTIAN: The Customs Department foiled an attempt by a group of nine illegal immigrants to exit the country via Sungai Boh here.
Johor Customs Department director Sazali Mohamad said a patrol team in the area spotted a suspicious-looking boat with nine people on board at around 11.15pm on March 29. As the patrol team approached the boat, four foreigners tried to escape by diving into the sea. We managed to save two who were on the verge of drowning but two others managed to flee, he said in a statement on Sunday (April 4).
He said inspection on the remaining three men, three women and a two-year-old girl found that they had overstayed.