JOHOR BAHRU: The Johor Immigration Department nabbed 16 foreigners in an operation dubbed Op Selera at a restaurant in Taman Tasek, here yesterday.
State immigration director, Baharuddin Tahir, said the raid took place at 4.40pm after receiving information that the popular restaurant, which serves Middle Eastern cuisine, had employed illegal or unlicensed workers.
"After inspecting 24 foreign workers, 16 were detained comprising seven Syrians, three Yemenis, three Palestinians, an Egyptian, a Bangladeshi, as well as a Filipino woman.
"Those detained were aged between 21 and 55. They were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) under suspicion of not possessing valid passes or permits.
"They are also being probed under Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act for overstaying," he said in a press statement.