PETALING JAYA: The Immigration Department has arrested 13 foreigners for operating illegal homestays.
The Immigration Department conducted the operation on Tuesday (June 3) along Jalan Ipoh and Jalan Sultan Ismail.
Following two weeks of surveillance, the department arrested 10 Bangladeshis, one Indonesian, an Indian, and a Filipino national.
"All suspects are aged between 24 and 40 and were believed to be homestay agents," said department deputy director-general (management) Ismail Mokhtar in a statement on Thursday (June 5).
Six of the arrested suspects had temporary work visas intended for the construction and cleaning industries.
"The rest had no valid travel documents or passes to be in Malaysia.
"The group managed homestays by renting them from local owners. Customers made reservations online, which were managed by the suspects.
"These activities have been ongoing for around a year. All detained have been brought to the Putrajaya Immigration Department for further action," he said.
Six locals and a Bangladeshi national have also been issued summonses to present themselves to the department to assist investigations.
