Immigration Dept Busts Syndicate Involved In Foreign Worker Quota Fraud

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- The Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) successfully dismantled a syndicate active in supplying foreign workers through the fraudulent use of foreign worker quotas, known as the "Badul" syndicate.

The syndicate was busted during Ops Serkap at a business premises on Jalan Desa Pandan, Kuala Lumpur, yesterday.

Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said that the operation, conducted by the Enforcement Division, followed intelligence gathering before the team raided the premises located on the second floor of a shop-lot building.

He noted that nine individuals aged between 26 and 61 were detained, comprising eight Bangladeshi men and one Indonesian woman. Additionally, two witness summonses were issued to local employees of the company to assist in the investigation.

"Initial investigations found that the company abused the foreign worker quota approvals granted specifically for their own use by selling, transferring, and distributing foreign labor to third parties without any authorization from the authorities.

“Each transaction involved fees ranging from RM3,000 to RM8,000 per application, clearly demonstrating elements of commercialisation and organised trafficking of foreign labour," he said in a statement today.

Based on gathered information, the company is believed to have raked in profits of nearly RM1 million per year. The syndicate’s tactics included: providing fake leave letters to foreign workers as a ruse to avoid detention during enforcement operations.

The syndicate is also involved in arranging the release of arrested foreign workers for a fee, creating the illusion that the law could be negotiated or bought and also acting as middlemen for work pass and visa renewals for a fee without official authorization.

Zakaria added that the syndicate was active in supplying unauthorised foreign workers across the country, reflecting an organised abuse of the national immigration system that threatens security, public order, and national sovereignty.

During the search, authorities seized 22 Indonesian, 20 Bangladeshi, 5 Pakistani, and 1 Indian passport; 497 foreign worker i-Kads and 38 Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) cards; approximately RM13,000 in cash, along with various related documents and equipment.

All detained foreigners are currently held at the Putrajaya Immigration Depot for further investigation under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963.

Zakaria emphasized that strict, uncompromising action will be taken against any parties involved in harboring, employing, or conspiring with undocumented foreigners.

--BERNAMA