The police has arrested eight young men from Philippines who tried to enter Kampung Sungai Bilis by a speedboat.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said the men were between 17 and 29 years old and were trying to enter Kampung Sungai Bilis around 12.15pm yesterday.

“We conducted checks and found that they had 300 empty jerrycans and 369,000 pesos (RM28,300) cash.

“They were not armed,” he said at a press conference today.

Hamza said the men are currently being investigated under the Immigration Act as they had no documents with them.

“If we have any information to accuse them under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma), then, we will do so,” he said.

So far, a total of 97 people have been detained under Sosma.