CYBERJAYA: The Immigration Department nabbed over 60,000 illegal immigrants during their operations nationwide last year.
Its deputy director-general Datuk Ibrahim Abdullah said the huge number of arrests came about under the department's Op Ikrar, which saw raids conducted daily nationwide.
"From the 60,000 illegal immigrants arrested, the department found that the largest group was made of those who violated the terms of their working pass, followed by expired permits and abuse of social visit pass to work here," he told reporters at a construction site, here, earlier today.
Ibrahim was there to monitor a joint-operation between the Immigration Department and National Registration Department against illegals who worked as labours at the site.
He said since Jan 1 to Feb 18, the department had conducted 1,452 raids nationwide and arrested 7,002 illegal immigrants, 133 employers and two recruitment agents for various offences.
With regards to the raid here this morning, Ibrahim said they performed checks on 415 foreign workers, and arrested 297 including nine women for various offences.
The three-hour raid that started at 12.30am was carried out by 101 law enforcement officers.