MIRI — The Malaysian Immigration Department in Miri has successfully detained 76 foreign nationals following a two-day integrated enforcement operation carried out across several areas in Miri city. The operation, which began on February 5 and ended in the early hours of February 6, was conducted based on information received from the public and aimed at curbing the presence of foreigners without valid travel documents.
The operation involved 30 officers and personnel from the Miri Division Immigration Enforcement Unit. Acting on intelligence, the team focused on locations believed to be hotspots for undocumented foreign nationals. These included construction sites, food premises, rented rooms, and private residential houses around the city.
A total of 17 premises were inspected during the operation. Immigration officers conducted detailed checks on individuals found at these locations to ensure compliance with Malaysia’s immigration laws and regulations. The operation was part of ongoing enforcement efforts to address illegal immigration activities and to take action against employers who fail to comply with the law.
During the inspections, 185 individuals were screened. As a result, 76 foreign nationals were arrested for suspected immigration offences. Those detained comprised 66 Indonesian citizens and 10 Filipino citizens. Investigations found that they were believed to have committed offences under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, which relate to entering and staying in Malaysia without valid permits or passes.
In addition to the foreign nationals, a Malaysian citizen was also arrested during the operation. The individual is believed to have acted as an employer to some of the detained foreigners and is suspected of violating existing immigration regulations.
All individuals arrested were taken to the Immigration Depot for further investigation and action in accordance with current legal procedures. The enforcement operation concluded at around 6.00 am on February 6.
The Malaysian Immigration Department reaffirmed its commitment to conducting continuous and firm enforcement actions to safeguard national security, sovereignty, and public well-being. The department also urged members of the public and employers to comply fully with immigration laws and to report any suspicious activities involving undocumented foreigners to the authorities.
