Immigration raids Selangor Wholesale Market, 35 PATI detained
June 16, 2023 12:03 MYT
SELAYANG: A total of 35 illegal immigrants (PATI) were arrested during a raid conducted by the Malaysian Immigration Department at Pasar Borong Selangor, Seri Kembangan here on Wednesday.
Director-General of the Malaysian Immigration Department, Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said, the operation was carried out involving 96 officers from the Enforcement Division, Anti-Human Trafficking Division and the Special Tactical Team (PASTAK) of the Malaysian Immigration Department Headquarters, Putrajaya.
According to him, the operation known as Op Sapu was carried out at about 4.45 am.
"A total of 95 foreigners were examined, 35 of whom were illegal aliens between the ages of 21 and 52 and were detained for various offences.
"Those arrested consist of 17 men from Myanmar, 13 men from Bangladesh, two men from India, two men from Indonesia and one man from Yemen," he said in a statement on Friday.
In the meantime, Ruslin said, all those arrested are believed to be working at the wholesale market as general workers.
"During the raid, the operation team encountered PATI who were trying to escape from the siege.
"The operation also faced difficulties with the rainy weather that morning and the dark conditions which caused some illegal aliens to escape.
He said that the enforcement action was taken after receiving a public complaint regarding illegal aliens working at the Wholesale Market without valid passports and identification documents.
"Among the offenses identified are no identification documents, overstaying, and other offenses that violate the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
"All detainees are placed at the Semenyih Immigration Depot, Selangor for the purpose of investigation and further action," he said.