DUNGUN: The Terengganu Immigration Department inspected 4,884 foreign nationals through 334 enforcement operations across the state from January to Aug 15.
Its director, Mohd Yusri Mohd Nor, said that out of that number, 1,257 were detained for various immigration offences.
He said most of the illegal immigrants were detained in a joint operation with the cooperation of agencies such as the National Security Council, local authorities and the police.
"This operation targeted high-risk areas such as construction sites, residential homes employing foreign workers, business premises, plantation areas and housing," he said in a statement on Monday (Aug 31).
Mohd Yusri said that out of the total arrests, 522 individuals were detained for offences under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not possessing valid documents or permits.
317 more were detained for overstaying under Section 15(4) of the Immigration Act 1959/6, while 372 were detained for misuse of passes under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations.
Meanwhile, he said that 46 more individuals were detected committing various other offences.
He said that the Terengganu Immigration Department also opened 207 investigation papers related to immigration offences during that period, while RM2.887mil in fines were collected.
"A total of 727 individuals have been charged in court, consisting of 707 illegal immigrants and 20 employers who hired or sheltered illegal immigrants. From the cases brought to court, a total of RM602,000 in fines have been recorded so far," he added.
During that period, a total of 2,376 detainees were deported from the country.
Meanwhile, Mohd Yusri said that Immigration deputy director-general Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli also participated in the integrated operation to hunt for illegal immigrants in Bukit Besi near here on Aug 11.
In that operation, 99 foreign nationals were inspected and 49 detained for offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
"Of the total number of illegal immigrants detained, 24 were Bangladeshi nationals, 17 Indonesians, seven Myanmar nationals and one Indian national," he added. – Bernama
