KELANTAN IMMIGRATION DETAINS 25 UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS

KOTA BHARU, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- The Kelantan branch of the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) detained 25 undocumented immigrants in an operation, codenamed Op Sapu, Op Kutip and Op Mahir, conducted simultaneously in Kota Bharu and Bachok yesterday.

Its deputy director, Nik Akhtarulhaq Nik Abdul Rahman said the operations commenced at about noon and involved 18 enforcement officers and focused on inspections at three business premises and construction sites.

"A total of 48 people were checked and they involved locals and foreign nationals. During the inspection, 25 foreign men were detained for various offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963," he said in a statement today.

He said the location of the first raid was a construction site near Section 12, Kota Bharu, where 32 people were inspected and 11 foreign men were detained.

"The arrests involved five Thai nationals and three Bangladeshi nationals who were detained under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, while two Indonesian nationals were investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and another Indonesian national under Section 15(1)(c) of the same act.

"The second location of the raid was a furniture factory in Bachok involving 12 Pakistani dan Bangladeshi nationals who were arrested for various immigration offences, including violating permit conditions and entering the country without valid documents,” he said.

He also said that two other Pakistani nationals were arrested at a third location, a furniture shop, in Bachok. The two men were arrested for allegedly violating Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

All those arrested were taken to the Immigration Depot for further action. Enforcement operations will continue from time to time to combat the presence of undocumented immigrants and ensure compliance with immigration laws," he added.

-- BERNAMA