29 foreigners held in raids on illegal money changers in Klang Valley

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 29 foreigners were detained following raids on illegal money changers in the Klang Valley.

Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said 10 illegal money changers were raided during the operation conducted on April 2 and 3.

"The money changers were operated by foreigners from Bangladesh, India and Indonesia.

We detained 11 Bangladeshi men, five Indian men as well as eight men and two women from Indonesia," he said in a statement on Wednesday (April 5).

Those detained were believed to be middlemen for the syndicate, who handled money delivery overseas, he said.

"Another three suspects were arrested where we believe an Indian man, a Bangladeshi man and Indonesian man, aged between 30 and 45, were the masterminds for the syndicate. They were also in possession of temporary working visit passes (PLKS)," he said.

The syndicate operated at restaurants, sundry shops, cosmetics shops, and electronic equipment kiosks as a cover to hide their activities, Ruslin said.

"They impose low fees to send money overseas," he added.

Various items were seized including RM300,527 cash, mobile phones and documents for money sent overseas, he said.

"We believe the syndicate was capable of handling up to RM108mil in sending money overseas yearly.

"Those detained have been sent to the Immigration depot in Semenyih for further investigation," he said.