20 terror suspects from IS, Abu Sayyaf arrested in nationwide swoop

The third raid by the division involved the arrests of four Indonesians aged between 31 and 38 with the help from the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in Sandakan, Sabah on Dec 4.

The suspects had entered Malaysia illegally from Tarakan and Nunukan, Indonesia and planned to enter southern Philippines to join the terrorist group.

On Dec 6, a 50-year-old Filipino suspected of having ties with the Abu Sayyaf group's supreme leader was arrested here.

The suspect was believed to have recruited Filipinos around Kepong, here to join the Abu Sayyaf group.

On Dec 10 in Sandakan saw another six Filipinos and five Malaysians aged between 16 and 47 who planned to join the terrorist group in southern Philippines arrested.

In another raid in Masai, Johor saw a Filipino who is listed as a wanted suspect in the Philippines arrested for suspicion of being involved in terror activities in Philippines.

The final raid on Dec 15, saw a 31-year-old North African man arrested at KLIA.

The suspect was previously arrested in Turkey in September last year for being involved in terror activities in Iraq and Syria.

He entered Malaysia in early December this year from a neighbouring country and was arrested through a foreign enforcement agency intelligence.

All suspects were detained under the Security Offences Act (Special Measures) 2012 (Sosma), Fuzi said.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2017/12/317378/20-terror-suspects-abu-sayyaf-arrested-nationwide-swoop