JOHOR BARU: A total of 76 undocumented foreigners were arrested in a series of raids by the Immigration Department across Johor.
Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said that the raid last Friday (April 3) and Saturday (April 4) targeted entertainment outlets, business premises, construction sites and residential properties in Segamat, Muar and Mersing.
He said in Mersing, 21 foreign nationals were detained at construction sites, residential premises and business outlets.
“One of the suspects resorted to hiding in the ceiling to avoid detection, but was later detained.
“Investigations also found that some employers and locals had acted as intermediaries in rental arrangements to conceal the true identities of tenants who were undocumented migrants,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (April 7).
He added that those detained comprised 14 Indonesian men and seven Bangladeshi men, aged between 21 and 35.
Meanwhile in Segamat, 28 female foreign nationals were detained at several entertainment premises, including 18 Thai women, six Vietnamese and four Laotian, aged 21 to 40.
“We believe they have been working as customer service attendants at the entertainment centres,” he said, adding that two local men, believed to be managing the premises and harbouring the undocumented workers, were also detained.
The department also issued 10 summonses to witnesses to assist in the investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
Separately in Muar, inspections at several business premises and residential properties led to the detention of 27 foreign men and women from Myanmar and Indonesia, and three children as young as one month old.
“Investigations also identified elderly care centres found to be employing or sheltering undocumented migrants.
“All the detainees have been sent to the Setia Tropika and Pekan Nenas immigration depots for further investigations,” he added.
