Johor Immigration nabs 84 illegals in factory raid after tip-off

JOHOR BARU: A total of 84 illegal immigrants from four countries and a local woman have been arrested following a raid at a factory in Senai near here.

Johor Immigration director Baharuddin Tahir said that the operation, codenamed Ops Mahir, was conducted at 11am on Wednesday (Jan 24) following a tip-off from the public.

"We received a tip-off that there were illegal immigrants working without permits in the factory, which is located in a hot spot area.

"Following the information, a total of 100 officers from our enforcement division and the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Immigration Department were deployed to carry out the operation.

"During the operation, checks were done on some 328 foreigners and locals. A total of 84 foreigners and one local woman were arrested in the raid," he said in a statement here on Thursday (Jan 25).

He said that those arrested are from Bangladesh (69), India (seven), Sri Lanka (four) and Myanmar (four) and are between 20 and 47 years old.

"They were arrested under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 115) for not having valid passes or permits to stay in Malaysia, Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act for staying in the country longer than allowed and Rule 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for violating the terms of their passes.

"Meanwhile, the 42-year-old local woman was arrested under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act for protecting illegal immigrants," he said.

He added that two notices were also issued for the individuals involved to appear at the Immigration office to assist in investigations.