JOHOR BARU: The Immigration Department has detained 26 individuals, including two locals, in raids on educational institutions and business premises here for allegedly hiring and harbouring undocumented migrants.
Johor Immigration Department director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the operation was conducted last Friday (Aug 22) following public tip-offs and intelligence gathering on illegal foreign workers.
“A total of 67 foreigners and locals were inspected during the operation. Our enforcement team detained 11 male and 13 female migrants,” he said in a statement on Sunday (Aug 24).
The suspects, aged between 17 and 63, were nationals of Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Myanmar and China.
Mohd Rusdi said two locals, who were working as managers at the premises, were also arrested for employing the undocumented workers.
“All those detained were taken to the Immigration Depot at Setia Tropika for further investigation,” he added.
He said the foreign nationals were believed to have committed several offences, including entering Malaysia without valid passes, overstaying and abusing their social visit passes.
“The two locals are being investigated for harbouring illegal immigrants. The department will continue to step up enforcement action against such offenders in the state,” he said.
