LABUAN, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- The Immigration Department arrested 20 illegal immigrants during a pre-dawn enforcement operation on the duty-free island of Labuan today.
Its director Raymond Entalai said the operation took place between 12.30 am and 2.30 am, based on public tip-offs and intelligence gathered by the department’s Enforcement Division.
“A total of 22 officers were deployed to four residential areas, conducting inspections on 46 individuals. Following the checks, 20 were detained for suspected offences under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63,” he told Bernama.
Raymond said those arrested included three adult men, six adult women, seven female children and four male children, all Filipino nationals aged between four months and 59 years.
Two summons notices were issued to witnesses, while all detainees were taken to the Immigration Enforcement Division office in Labuan for documentation and further investigation, he added.
“Enforcement operations will continue to detect, arrest, prosecute and deport foreign nationals who violate Malaysian immigration laws, including the Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966, Immigration Regulations 1963, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM),” he said.
He also reminded that strict action would be taken against employers or individuals found to be employing or harbouring illegal immigrants.
-- BERNAMA
