JOHOR BARU: State Immigration officers have detained 35 foreign food vendors for failing to produce work permits in a raid on a Thai Food Fest here on Saturday.
During the operation codenamed Ops Selesa, the officers inspected 52 stalls following public complaints of foreigners setting up stalls and violating their social visit permits.
Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said 102 individuals were inspected and 35 foreigners aged between 19 and 55 were detained.
The detainees comprised 20 male and six female Thai nationals and nine Indonesians, including a woman. They were found to have violated immigration regulations by misusing social visit passes to gain employment.
They also faced charges for not possessing valid permits and overstaying.
The officers also issued five notices to local vendors to report to the state Immigration office for further investigations.
The Thai-centric food festival had been organised in several tourist hotspots in the state capital since the beginning of this year.
The News Straits Times efforts to reach out to the organisers were futile at press time.
Rusdi said operations against migrants working and overstaying in the state would be continued.
He emphasised the department's commitment in cracking down against foreigners who misused their visas to gain employment.
He warned that strict action would be taken against employers and premises owners who hired foreign workers without legal work permits or travel documents.
"We will not compromise in our efforts to curb these illegal activities and protect the integrity of our immigration system," he said.