MIRI, July 16, 2026 – A total of 175 Indonesian citizens were arrested during a joint enforcement operation at a workers’ housing area in Linau Mewah Estate, Jalan Lambir, Miri, on Wednesday night.
The operation, known as Ops Mega, was carried out by the Sarawak Immigration Department to detect and take action against foreign nationals suspected of violating Malaysia’s immigration laws.
The raid started at about 11.35pm on July 15, 2026, and was led by the Miri Immigration Enforcement Unit with the cooperation of several government enforcement agencies.
During the operation, a total of 250 foreign nationals were checked by enforcement officers. Following the inspection, 175 Indonesian citizens were detained for suspected offences under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155).
Those arrested consisted of 90 men, 53 women and 32 children. They were suspected of offences including not having valid travel documents or immigration passes, as well as violating immigration requirements.
The large-scale operation involved 57 enforcement personnel from several agencies. The team included 30 officers and members from the Sarawak Immigration Department, 10 officers from the Labour Department, nine officers from the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), four members from the Marine Police and four members from the Sarawak Security and Protection Unit (UKPS).
The inspection ended at about 4am, after which all detained individuals were taken to the Bekenu Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation and necessary legal action.
The Sarawak Immigration Department said it would continue carrying out joint enforcement operations with other agencies to ensure compliance with immigration laws and to address the issue of illegal immigrants in the state.
Such operations are part of ongoing efforts to protect public safety, maintain law and order, and ensure foreign workers in Sarawak are properly registered and working legally.
Authorities also reminded employers to make sure all foreign workers have valid documents and work permits. Employers who hire undocumented foreign workers may face legal action under Malaysian immigration laws.
The Sarawak Immigration Department stressed that enforcement activities will continue across the state to prevent misuse of immigration facilities and ensure all foreign nationals follow the rules while staying in Malaysia.
