KAJANG: The Immigration Department has detained 288 undocumented migrants suspected of various offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 in a raid at Hentian Kajang here.
Immigration deputy director-general (Operations) Jafri Embok Taha said those detained comprised 242 men and 46 women from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Sudan.
The operation, which began at 7.30pm Thursday (April 10) and also involved the National Registration Department and Civil Defence Force, saw 785 foreigners and 250 locals screened at six blocks of five-storey shop houses that also included foreign worker accommodations.
"Those detained, aged between 18 and 60, are suspected of offences such as lacking identification documents, violating pass conditions, overstaying, holding unrecognised cards and other breaches of the Act,” he told a press conference at the scene.
Jafri said most of those detained worked at food outlets and factories nearby.
They were taken to the Immigration Department in Putrajaya for documentation before being sent to the Semenyih Immigration Depot.
He said several foreigners were found hiding in toilets and ceiling spaces, while some were suspected of working at a gambling outlet.
Investigations would be carried out to determine the existence of gambling activities employing undocumented migrants, he added.
He also reminded employers not to hire or harbour undocumented foreigners as they would face strict action under the law. – Bernama
