MELAKA: The Melaka Immigration Department rounded up 90 undocumented migrants in Kota Laksamana here, through Ops Sapu, on Wednesday (Feb 22) night.
Melaka Immigration Department director Anirwan Fauzee Mohd Aini said during the three-hour operation that started at midnight, those detained comprised 75 from Bangladesh, four from Myanmar, eight men and two women from Indonesia and one Pakistan national, aged between 25 and 40.
Anirwan said the enforcement operation was carried out following complaints from members of the public that the construction site in Taman Kota Laksamana here was flooded with foreigners, who were mostly undocumented.
"Overall we screened 117 foreigners and found 90 without proper documentation, expired work permits, overstaying and several other offences.
"During the operation, some of the illegal immigrants had jumped into a five-metre deep monsoon drain to avoid being arrested. Some were apprehended while some managed to escape because the area was very dark and the site was dangerous," he said in a statement on Thursday.
He added that a summon was handed to a security guard who was on duty at the construction site while investigations were being carried out to identify the company or person who employed the undocumented migrants.
"The Melaka Immigration Department will continue to carry out enforcement operations at hot spots where undocumented migrants have been spotted,” he said.
Anirwan said stern action would be taken against employers or companies that employ undocumented migrants to work in their premises or factories without work permits, valid travel documents or those who try to harbour them at their premises.- Bernama
