JOHOR BARU: The state Immigration department's crackdown aimed at 'sweeping out' undocumented migrants and those harbouring them, saw 42 foreigners including two toddlers detained in a two-day operation, in three districts in Johor.
In the crackdown which began on Tuesday and ended yesterday, the department conducted a series of raids on 52 premises in three districts namely 34 premises in Johor Baru, five in Muar and 13 in Batu Pahat.
Its director Baharuddin Tahir said they had identified 'hotspots' within the state where a huge number of illegal migrants lived and worked, causing discomfort among locals.
Those detained had either violated their permits, breeched their visas by working or overstaying, while some failed to produce valid documentation.
Among the 52 detained aged between three and 52 years old, were 19 men, six women, and a boy, all who were Myanmar nationals.
The remaining were four Indonesian women and a boy, six Bangladeshi men, three Nepalese men, a male Indian national and a woman from Vietnam.
Baharuddin said a total of 224 foreigners and locals had their documents and identification documents inspected during the operation.
The detainees were suspected of violating Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) for failing to produce valid visas or permits, Section 15(1)(c) of the same act for overstaying, and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for breaching the conditions of their visas.
Six locals were served with the department's attendance notices to appear at the department's respective district headquarters to assist in further investigations.
Baharuddin said the crackdown against illegal migrants will be intensified throughout the state, particularly in hotspot areas, to combat the surge of undocumented foreign nationals.