KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — A total of 69 foreign nationals were detained during a recent enforcement operation conducted by the Immigration Department of Malaysia as part of its ongoing Ops Gegar initiative.
The individuals, aged between 20 and 35 years old, were picked up during inspections carried out at several premises. Those detained comprised citizens from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos and Bangladesh. Authorities said the operation was aimed at ensuring strict compliance with Malaysia’s immigration laws.
According to an official statement issued last night by Immigration Director-General Dato’ Lokman Effendi Ramli, various offences were detected during the inspection. Among the violations identified were failure to produce valid identification documents, overstaying beyond the permitted duration, breaching pass conditions and other offences under existing immigration regulations.
He said enforcement officers faced challenges during the operation, including attempts by certain individuals to escape and efforts to conceal foreign nationals and important documents to delay the inspection process. However, the authorities managed to bring the situation under control and proceed with the arrests.
All 69 detainees have been placed at the Immigration Depot for further investigation and documentation. The department will conduct thorough checks to determine further legal action under the Immigration Act and related laws.
Dato’ Lokman also revealed that from January 1 until April 7, 2026, a total of 106 Ops Gegar operations have been carried out nationwide. These operations resulted in the arrest of 670 illegal immigrants, commonly referred to as Pendatang Asing Tanpa Izin (PATI), as well as 23 employers suspected of violating immigration regulations.
He stressed that the Immigration Department will continue to intensify enforcement efforts across the country. The objective is to ensure that all foreign nationals and employers comply fully with Malaysia’s immigration laws and regulations.
The department also reminded employers not to hire or protect illegal immigrants, as doing so is a serious offence that can lead to heavy penalties, including fines and imprisonment.
Members of the public who have information related to immigration violations are urged to channel it directly to the Immigration Department of Malaysia through its official communication channels. Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to upholding the rule of law and maintaining national security through continuous enforcement actions.
