A LARGE group of illegal immigrants from Indonesia were found last week - just a stone's throw away from Changi Naval Base.
A total of 34 men and women were arrested by the Police Coast Guard after midnight last Friday. An anonymous source told my paper that there were children in the group.
Policemen discovered them when floodlights swept across the area.
This would be the latest and largest single arrest of illegal immigrants by sea reported so far this year.
A my paper report in February had said that 29 people had been caught trying to enter the country illegally from January to Feb 11.
Traditionally, foreign nationals have been known to sneak in via the sea route at night, under the cloak of darkness and in much smaller groups. They usually swim or come in motorised sampans.
Lim Chu Kang, Admiralty, Tuas and Changi are hot spots because their forested shorelines provide camouflage.
According to the source, the group of 34 were apparently dropped off from a boat on Thursday night.
"The case has been classified as illegal entry into Singapore under Section 6(1)(c) Chapter 133," said a police spokesman.
This means that the offenders had attempted to enter Singapore without valid immigration papers.
"Arrangements have since been made with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority for repatriation," said the spokesman.
