JOHOR BARU: A total of 49 individuals, including five local men, were arrested by the Johor Immigration Department during a large-scale enforcement operation dubbed "Ops Gegar."
Johor Immigration Department director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the operation was conducted on Jan 10 by officers from the Enforcement Division at four premises in Kluang, Johor.
"A total of 90 individuals, including local and foreign nationals, were inspected during the operation,” he said.
Mohd Rusdi added that among those arrested were five local men, believed to be premises caretakers, aged between 25 and 41.
"The foreign detainees included 27 Vietnamese women, three Indonesian men, nine Indonesian women, two Thai women, two Bangladeshi men, and one Nepali man," he said on Wednesday (Jan 15).
He added that the detainees were aged between 21 and 48 and were apprehended for suspected violations of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
"The five local men were detained under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act for harbouring illegal immigrants.
"Additionally, six notices were issued to individuals requiring them to appear at the immigration office to assist in the investigation.
"All detainees have been placed in the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot for further investigation and action," he added.
Mohd Rusdi then said that there is a rising trend of foreign nationals misusing their stay permits in Malaysia by working illegally and engaging in immoral activities.
He added that the department would not compromise on such issues and would take strict action against employers and premises owners who hire foreign workers without valid travel documents or work permits.
