JOHOR BARU: A total of 356 undocumented foreign nationals were detained by the Immigration Department during a raid on a computer component factory in the Tebrau industrial area here.
Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the operation was carried out at about 7pm on Tuesday (Dec 16) after intelligence confirmed the employer’s involvement in hiring undocumented foreign workers.
“During the surprise inspection, several workers tried to flee to avoid enforcement action, but swift action by officers blocking all exit routes prevented any escapes.
“Two local men, identified as human resources officers at the factory, were also detained during the operation,” Mohd Rusdi said in a statement on Thursday (Dec 18).
He said those detained comprised 246 Myanmar men and 53 women, with the rest from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia and the Philippines.
“The foreigners have been working at the factory for less than a year. Further inspections uncovered elements of organised violations of immigration laws, including the employer’s failure to comply with conditions for employing foreign workers,” he said.
He added that the department would not compromise with any employer who continued to violate immigration laws for profit.
All detainees, aged between 18 and 46, have been placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot for further investigation and action under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
