A total of 393 illegal immigrants (PATI) and 72 skippers were arrested for attempting to enter the country illegally, especially through the rat trails.

The Ops Benteng involving the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) and the Malaysian Border Security Agency (AKSEM) also arrested 11 suspected smugglers and detained 12 vessels.

Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government was constantly monitoring and enhancing control of the country's border areas especially in the rat trails.

"The enforcement agency also managed to chase away 132 PATI, five skippers and 17 vessels attempting to cross the country’s border.

"The integrated operation has also successfully detained 1,517 foreign nationals who have invaded the country's borders," he said at a daily press conference here on Saturday.

Ismail Sabri said the authorities were always committed to tightening control over the border to ensure that there is no PATI entry into the country.