KUCHING: An integrated police operation, Op Sekat, carried out in Kuching has led to the arrest of 78 undocumented migrants and one local man in a large-scale night raid involving multiple enforcement agencies.
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Kuching district police chief ACP Alexson Naga Chabu said the detainees, aged between nine months and 56 years, consisted of 59 men, 15 women, one male child, and three female children. Out of the total, 62 were Indonesians and 16 were Bangladeshi nationals.
“Investigations revealed that 67 of the undocumented migrants had committed offences under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63,” he said. The local man, who tested positive for drugs, was arrested under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The operation, which began at 10pm on Tuesday and ended at 6am the following day, targeted hotspot areas known for illegal migrant activity, including industrial zones, construction sites, and squatter settlements.
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A total of 215 enforcement personnel took part in the raid. They included 30 officers and 185 members from the Kuching District Police Headquarters, General Operations Force Battalion 11 Batu Kawa, Immigration Department, and National Registration Department.
Alexson explained that the integrated operation’s main goal was to detect, arrest, and prosecute undocumented migrants under the Immigration Act and other related laws. “This effort is part of our continuous strategy to curb the influx of undocumented migrants, strengthen security, protect socio-economic stability, and maintain public safety,” he said.
He added that the crackdown also came in response to a series of housebreaking and robbery cases in areas where undocumented migrants are suspected to be involved.
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Alexson urged the public to cooperate with the authorities by reporting illegal activities or suspicious individuals to the police.
