77 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DETAINED IN SEREMBAN, NILAI RAIDS

SEREMBAN, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- The Immigration Department has arrested 77 illegal immigrants, including 55 at a factory, during enforcement raids at 13 locations in Seremban and Nilai.

Negeri Sembilan Immigration director Kennith Tan Ai Kiang said 395 foreign nationals were checked during the operations from 9 am on Tuesday until 1 am on Wednesday, following complaints and intelligence gathered over a week.

“From the inspections, 77 illegal immigrants, comprising 71 men and six women aged between 19 and 47, were arrested for various immigration offences.

“Those arrested were four Indonesians, 10 Pakistanis, 26 Bangladeshis, 26 Indians, six Thais and five Myanmar nationals, with 55 of them detained during a raid at a soap factory in Nilai,” he said in a statement here.

Tan said the main offences included failure to possess valid passes and travel documents, overstaying, as well as other offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.

He said all detainees were placed at the Lenggeng Immigration Depot for investigation and further action.

“Besides action against the foreign nationals, stern action, including prosecution in court, will also be taken against any employers or individuals found to be employing or harbouring illegal immigrants in accordance with the law,” he said.

-- BERNAMA