Esscom goes after smugglers

Special committee set up to coordinate law enforcement agencies to strengthen Esszone.

KOTA KINABALU: The Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) will set up a committee to coordinate all law enforcement agencies involved to curb smuggling in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (Esszone).

Esscom Director Ruji Ubi said the move follows the recent restructuring of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom).

“Esscom will finalise the details and the membership committee before it is implemented,” he said in a statement yesterday.

He added that the move reflects the government’s commitment to finding the best way to resolve the issue of trafficking within Esszone.

Ruji said that as part of the operations against smugglers, Esscom is taking proactive measures to engage with the public on the importance of unity in defending the sovereignty and security of Sabah.

He said that in the last two weeks, Esscom has carried out eight face to face programmes with the people in Semporna, Kunak, Tawau, Sandakan, Kinabatangan and Tongod in an effort to “win their hearts and minds”.

Esszone covers 1,733.7 miles from Kudat to Tawau.

The areas involved are Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.