Malaysian authorities arrested more than 80 undocumented immigrants, including a six-month-old baby, in a three-day operation spanning three districts in Johor.
Acting Director of the Johor State Immigration Department, Mohd Faizal Shamsudin, said the arrests occurred between Monday and Wednesday during raids conducted in Johor Baru, Batu Pahat, and Segamat, reports The Star.
"Following a tip-off from the public, we raided 42 locations in hotspot areas across the state," Shamsudin stated yesterday. "As a result, we detained 86 foreigners for immigration offences such as working without a permit and lacking valid travel documents."
Of those arrested, 67 were apprehended in Johor Baru, 14 in Batu Pahat, and 5 in Segamat. The detainees hail from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar, ranging in age from six months to 51 years.
Additionally, two local men in their 40s, suspected to be the owners of some raided premises, were arrested in Johor Baru and Batu Pahat. Among those detained was a maid believed to have absconded from her employers.
The immigrants are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not possessing valid travel documents, Section 15(1)(c) for overstaying, and Section 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for abuse of social visit passes. The two local men are being investigated under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for harboring illegal immigrants.
All individuals arrested have been placed in the immigration depot in Setia Tropika.
