JOHOR BARU: The state Immigration Department has detained 235 illegal immigrants in several raids.
Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said 105 of them were detained at a workers’ accommodation in Batu Pahat at around 1am on Sunday (Feb 16).
“The raid was based on public information about foreigners staying at the workers enclave illegally or without a work permit.
“We checked the documents of 329 foreigners at the location and detained 98 men from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan and India, as well as seven Indonesian women,” he said in a statement on Monday (Feb 17).
Mohd Rusdi also said that the department detained 130 foreigners and two employers in separate raids, which started at around midnight last Friday (Feb 14).
“We checked 18 business premises including factories and construction workers’ accommodation in Johor Baru and detained 90 foreigners,” he said.
He added that 40 foreign nationals and two local men were also detained for various offences at reflexology centres and other businesses in Batu Pahat, Mersing, Muar and Segamat.
Those detained came from China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Mohd Rusdi said the foreign detainees were aged 18 to 55 years old, adding that they were brought to the Pekan Nanas Immigration depot to assist with investigation under the Immigration Act.
“We also issued 12 notices to call witnesses to the Immigration office to assist in investigations.
“We will continue taking action against those who overstay or work in the country without a valid working pass, as well as those who hire such individuals,” he added.
