Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Immigration enforcement officers detained 14 Chinese nationals during an operation at a three-storey bungalow here on suspicion that the premises was being used for online scam activities.
Sabah Immigration Department director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the raid, dubbed Ops Serkap, was conducted at about 11pm on Wednesday by 49 personnel following a week of surveillance.
Checks revealed all 14 suspects, aged between 26 and 44, entered Malaysia as tourists on Social Visit Passes, with 13 found overstaying under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and one lacking a valid pass under Section 6(1)(c) of the same Act.
Officers seized RM3,742 and CNY560 (RM339.71) in cash, 14 laptops, 75 mobile phones, internet equipment, and office furniture from the premises.
All suspects and seized items have been taken in for further investigation under relevant laws as the department continues to intensify operations against immigration violations.
