KUANTAN: Foreign workers, who were busy at work, were caught by surprise when a raiding party from the Pahang Immigration Department arrived at their doorstep during a major security operation against illegal immigrants on Wednesday.
Fifty-five foreigners, believed to be working in the country without valid permits, were picked during the simultaneous operations conducted on construction sites, restaurants, grocery stores and massage parlours in three districts.
The department, in a statement on its Facebook page, said the raids involving 15 enforcement officers were conducted at business premises in Bentong, Maran and the state capital between 12.05am and 3pm on Aug 28.
A total of 116 foreigners from Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Pakistan, Vietnam, India, Nepal and Bangladesh were screened for documentation at 19 premises in the three districts.
"Fifty-five illegal immigrants, aged between 22 and 51, were picked for questioning.
"Those detained comprised 27 Bangladeshis, 15 Indonesians, six Thai nationals, three each from Pakistan and India and one Cambodian. A local was also detained to assist with the department's investigations.
"All the suspects have been remanded for 14 days under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 at the Kemayan depot in Bera for further investigation.
"The department is tracking down the premises' owners who brought in the foreigners," the statement said.
The Immigration Department urged the public to come forward and provide information on the presence of foreigners to help the authorities curb the influx of illegal immigrants across Pahang.
Based on the footage of the raids codenamed Op Gegar, Op Mahir and Op Belanja shared on the department's Facebook page, the raiding team travelling in four-wheel-drive vehicles had gone off-road to enter construction sites and sawmills to conduct checks and nab the foreigners.