JOHOR BARU: A joint operation conducted by the Johor Immigration Department and the police led to the arrest of 64 undocumented immigrants, including 55 women of various nationalities.
State Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the operation, carried out on Tuesday (Jan 27), targeted business premises including massage parlours and hotels in the city centre.
“This joint operation is carried out firmly and without compromise to address the presence of illegal immigrants, the misuse of Immigration passes and violations of existing laws.
“Thorough checks are conducted to ensure every foreigner possesses valid documents, while premises owners are monitored for illegal employment practices,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 28).
Mohd Rusdi said a total of 64 individuals were detained for various Immigration offences. Among them were one Indonesian man, three Indian nationals, three Bangladeshis and two Pakistanis.
Also arrested were 17 Thai women, 33 Indonesian women, three Chinese women and two Ugandan women. Those detained are aged 19 to 65.
He said all detainees are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963, and are currently held at the department’s depot in Setia Tropika here.
Mohd Rusdi added that the department would not tolerate activities that violate Immigration laws and will continue to mount operations to curb such offences.
He also urged the public to report any suspicious activities to the authorities if they come across them in their neighbourhoods.
