Muscat: The Royal Oman Police (ROP) has further increased vigil along the country's coast from Muscat to Musandam in their fight against human traffickers.
Subsequently 1,149 infiltrators, majority of them Pakistani nationals, were arresed and deported last month. The number of infiltrators doubled in April compared to 539 sent back home by boats in March.
"The infiltrators were deported as per legal provisions and in accordance with international norms," said Lt Colonel Abdul Karim Bin Murad Al Balushi, who heads the unit to combat infiltration at the Directorate-General of Operations.
The human traffickers are exploiting the long coastline to drop off infiltrators.
Al Balushi praised the efforts of residents, especially citizens living along Oman's northern coast, for helping authorities nab infiltrators. At the same time he warned of stringent action against those giving shelter or employment to illegal residents.
Talking about the stringent steps taken by the police, Lt. Col. Abdullah Bin Saleh Al Gailani, Director of Operations in North Batinah area, said that a dedicated team equipped with latest gadgets has been deputed along the coastal strip from Muscat to Musandam to catch these infiltrators.
He pointed out that in several cases, the police teams have successfully caught mother ships along with smaller boats used to take infiltrators from mid-sea to the coast.
