PONTIAN: A total of 214 undocumented migrants have been arrested by the Johor Immigration Department in raids on workers’ settlements near Kampung Belokok and Jalan Lingkaran Dalam in Johor Baru.
Immigration deputy director-general (operations) Jafri Embok Taha said the first raid was conducted at 12.45am yesterday, involving 140 officers and personnel.
He added that two local men, aged 62 and 35, were also arrested for harbouring undocumented migrants.
“The raid in Kampung Belokok was based on a public tip-off informing us about the presence of undocumented migrants.
“This was followed by two weeks of surveillance by department personnel and the drone unit.
“A total of 252 people were inspected. 92 of them were arrested for various offences,” he said.
Elaborate effort: The raids were conducted in collaboration with other agencies, including the National Registration Department, Civil Defence Force, National Anti-Drugs Agency and Rela.
Those detained included 30 men from China, four men from India, four men from Indonesia, 53 men from Bangladesh and one man from Pakistan.
“Those arrested are aged between 20 and 40,” said Jafri, adding that the settlement was located about 500m from a construction site where the undocumented migrants were working.
The second raid, conducted at 3.20am near Danga City Mall, targeted a larger group of workers.
“Based on another public tip-off and subsequent surveillance, 725 individuals were inspected, resulting in 122 arrests for immigration offences.
“Those arrested are aged between 25 and 40,” said Jafri, adding that they were 70 men from Bangladesh, 31 men from Indonesia, 20 men from Myanmar and one man from Pakistan.
One detainee was found in possession of a counterfeit United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees card.
All detainees were taken to the department headquarters in Setia Tropika for documentation.
