SUNGAI PETANI: The Immigration Department detained 23 illegal immigrants which include those from Thailand, Nepal and Laos in an operation, "Ops Ikrar", on Wednesday here.
Its director, Mohamad Yusri Bin Hashim, said the operation was conducted in three entertainment premises in Taman Sejati Indah here around 11pm.
"Among those detained, nine of them are Nepalese men, 12 are Thai women and two Laotian women.
"Those detained are aged between 21 and 53," said Yusri.
He added the Nepalese men are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Amendment 2002) for failing to provide any valid travel documents, while the 14 women are being investigated under Rule 39(b) Immigration Regulations 1963 for breaching their social visit passes.
The illegal immigrants are currently detained at the Immigration Department lockup at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Alor Star for further investigation before being transferred to Belantik Immigration Detention Depot in Sik.