LABUAN: The Immigration Department detained 26 undocumented migrants during an enforcement operation in two settlements here early Friday.
Operation chief Mohd Shufandy Mohd Hashim said it was carried out following public information and intelligence gathering by the department.
He said the operation involved 20 officers from the Labuan Immigration Department, six officers from the National Registration Department (JPN), eight Malaysian Civil Defence Force (Rela) personnel and one officer from the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM).
“During the operation, 51 individuals were inspected, comprising 23 Malaysians and 28 foreigners.
“Following the checks, 18 Indonesian nationals and eight Filipino nationals were detained,” he said.
Mohd Shufandy said all detainees were taken to the enforcement division office of the Labuan Immigration Department for documentation and further action under the relevant laws.
The detainees are being investigated for offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155), including Section 6(1)(c), Section 15(1)(c) and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
He said enforcement operations would continue to detect, arrest, prosecute and deport foreigners who violate the country’s immigration laws.
He added that action would also be taken against employers and premises owners who hire foreigners without valid travel documents and passes under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Those convicted face a fine of between RM10,000 and RM50,000, or imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both, for each foreign worker employed.
