KUALA LUMPUR: A raid by the Immigration Department on Pulau Perhentian, Terengganu, saw 26 foreigners of various nationalities being detained on Monday.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said those arrested comprised 20 men and four women aged between 22 and 50.
Of the men, 13 were from Bangladesh, followed by those from Myanmar (6), Nepal (3) and Pakistan (2). The women comprised three Thai nationals and one Indonesian.
"All those arrested are believed to be either running businesses or working here," he said, adding these included "water taxi" and spa services.
Ruslin said the island's terrain made the operation challenging.
"Some of the foreigners also tried to run away but the raiding officers managed to stop them from escaping," he said in a statement, adding the department was assisted by the Terengganu Fisheries Department.
The foreigners, who are believed to have been on the island for nine months, were brought to the Ajil Immigration Depot.
They are suspected of offences under Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act for illegal entry and Rule 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations for breaching conditions of their permits.
Ruslin said two locals have also been served notices to assist the department in their probe.
"We will track down those who employed undocumented migrants or those without valid passes," he said.