JOHOR BARU: Over 200 foreigners, and 19 locals, were detained for various immigration offences in separate operations involving the two Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) buildings here.
Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said some 169 foreigners from 17 countries were detained during an operation at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) CIQ on Wednesday (Aug 14).
"The operations were held as part of Johor Immigration's effort to tighten up enforcement, especially the BSI and Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) CIQs.
"The first operation was held at the BSI where we detained 169 foreigners of various nationality, including those from Indonesia, Singapore, China, India, South Korea and Cambodia.
"In the same operation, we have so detained 19 locals for various offences," he said in a statement here on Thursday (Aug 15).
He added the department also conducted a similar operation at the KSAB CIQ on Thursday (Aug 15).
"At the KSAB, we have detained 80 foreigners from countries such as Singapore, Indonesia, Bangladesh, China, India and Italy.
"On top of that, we have also issued compounds to 88 foreigners," he said.
He said they are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not having a valid pass or permit to be in the country, Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act for overstaying, Section (1)(I) of the same Act for using fake temporary working visit pass and Section 56(1)(d) of the same Act for protecting undocumented migrants.
Some are also being investigated under Section 56(1)(g) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for actively or passively going against or disrupting immigration officers from carrying out their duties.
Separately, Rusdi said the department has also detained 66 foreigners and a local man in a series of operations involving several districts in Johor.
"The operations were conducted following public tip-off we have received," he said.
He said that 28 foreigners were arrested in Johor Baru, 11 in Batu Pahat, 12 in Mersing and 23 in Pasir Gudang.
"Among those arrested include a 67-year-old Pakistani man who is the manager of one of the companies raided," he said.
He said that those arrested were aged 19 to 67 from Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar and India.
