GUA MUSANG: The Kelantan Immigration Department has identified several vegetable operators in Lojing Highlands here who have hired illegal migrants to work at their farms.
The department's acting director Nik Akhtarulhaq Nik Abdul Rahman said the operators were believed to have hired them a few months ago.
He added that the department had received many reports on the presence of illegal workers and launched a massive operation recently. As a result, he said they detained 86 undocumented migrants.
He said the two-day operation, which ended on Oct 4, involved more than 100 Immigration officers assisted by the police, the state National Security Council and Forestry Department officers.
"During the crackdown, which began on Oct 3, we raided 16 locations in Lojing Highlands. These included farm sites, workers' quarters and food stalls.
"We screened 123 foreigners. Of the number, 86 were arrested for various offences under the Immigration Act," he added.
He said the 86, including six women, were from Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar.
"They have been sent to the department's detention centre in Tanah Merah and are awaiting deportation," he added.
It is learnt that the detainees were among scores of illegal migrants who Lojing Highlands' vegetable farm operators hired to work at their farms. Some of the operators were also believed to have extended their farms illegally.
The department is expected to continue to carry out similar operations in the area from time to time to nab undocumented migrants.