In a crackdown on illegal immigration, Malaysia`s immigration department apprehended 265 migrants, with 138 hailing from Bangladesh, in raids across Johor state. The arrests were made for engaging in work without valid permits and running businesses without licenses.
The operation unfolded in two phases, with the initial sweep resulting in the detention of 207 individuals from a pool of 530 foreigners, according to police reports. Subsequently, an additional 58 individuals were apprehended in follow-up actions. Notably, a Malaysian citizen was also taken into custody for allegedly harboring illegal migrants.
Prompted by complaints from local residents, authorities executed the operation, casting a wide net that ensnared nationals from China, Myanmar, Pakistan, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka.
Malaysian police underscored that the detained migrants were involved in unauthorized employment and unlicensed business operations.
The detainees have been relocated to the `Setia Tropica Migrant Detention Camp` in Johor State. As news of the crackdown spreads, hundreds of Bangladeshi expatriates in Malaysia now live in apprehension, fearing similar arrests amid the ongoing raids nationwide.
