KOTA TINGGI: Indonesian illegal immigrant workers were detained at an oil palm plantation during Ops Sapu Tangkap on Saturday (Oct 4).
Johor Immigration Department director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the workers were either sleeping or resting when the raid occurred at 1am.
“The seven men and two women, aged 18 to 52, who were caught have been illegally working at the plantation in Tanjung Sedili for about four months,’’ he said in a statement.
Mohd Rusdi added that the department also apprehended a three-month-old toddler girl.
He said the raid was conducted following complaints received from the public and internal intelligence surveillance on the presence of illegal immigrant workers at the plantation.
“Some were hiding in the rooms of the house, while others were trying to run away, but we managed to catch them,’’ said Mohd Rusdi.,
He stated that the initial investigation revealed they did not possess valid travel documents and had overstayed in the country.
Mohd Rusdi said the detainees have committed offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
“They are now being placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot, Johor Baru,’’ he said.
