LAHAD DATU, Oct 7 — The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) has detained 20 illegal immigrants at four squatter settlements in Felda Sahabat, about 90km from here.

Nineteen of the suspects were Filipinos without identification documents while the other was Indonesian.

They were picked up in an integrated operation dubbed ‘Ops Gasak 7’ which began 3.30am and ended at noon yesterday.

Esscom Commander DCP Datuk Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said they were among 994 people screened by federal and state security forces, whose focus was on Kampung Lok Buani, Sungai Merah, Labian Lama and Sungai Bilis.

In a statement today, he said the 20 foreigners would be sent to the Tawau Temporary Detention Centre before deportation. —Bernama