SINGAPORE: 10 illegal immigrants, who thought of taking advantage of the Chinese New Year holiday festivities to enter Singapore by sea, were arrested by the Police Coast Guard.

The incidents happened on Thursday night and early Friday morning.

Police said the arrests bring to 23 the number of illegal immigrants nabbed this year for trying to enter Singapore illegally by sea.

Giving details of the arrests, police said that at about 9.45pm Thursday and at 2.30am Friday, patrol officers from Police Coast Guard arrested four Myanmar nationals, aged 19 to 29, trying to enter Singapore by swimming off Sungei Buloh.

And, at 12.30am Friday, six Indonesians - aged between 18 and 38 - tried to enter Singapore in a motorboat off Changi.

All ten suspects will be charged in court for unlawful entry. If found guilty, they could be jailed, caned or fined. - CNA/ir