IMMIGRATION DEPT DETAINS 288 FOREIGNERS IN RAID AT HENTIAN KAJANG

KAJANG, April 11 (Bernama) -- The Immigration Department detained 288 illegal immigrants suspected of committing various offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) in a raid at Hentian Kajang last night.

Immigration deputy director-general (Operations) Jafri Embok Taha said those detained comprised 242 men and 46 women from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Pakistan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Sudan.

The operation, which began at 7.30 pm and involved the National Registration Department and Civil Defence Force, saw 785 foreigners and 250 locals screened at six blocks of five-storey shop houses that housed various businesses and foreign workers’ accommodations.

“Those detained, aged between 18 and 60, are suspected of committing offences such as lacking identification documents, violating pass conditions, overstaying, holding unrecognised cards and other breaches of Act 155,” he told a press conference at the raid site.

Jafri said most of the detained foreigners worked at food outlets and factories nearby. All were taken to the Immigration Department in Putrajaya for documentation before being sent to the Semenyih Immigration Depot.

He said several foreigners were found hiding in toilets and ceiling spaces, while some were suspected of working at a gambling outlet operating within the premises.

Investigations would be conducted to determine the existence of gambling activities employing illegal immigrants, he added.

He also reminded employers not to hire or harbour illegal immigrants, warning that strict action would be taken against those violating Act 155, the Passport Act 1966, Immigration Regulations 1963 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.

-- BERNAMA