Wed Sep 25 07:17:00 UTC 2024: ## Johor Immigration Department Cracks Down on Illegal Activities, Arrests 56 Foreign Nationals

**Johor Bahru, Sept 25**: The Johor Immigration Department has arrested a total of 56 foreign nationals in separate operations over the past few days, including four Chinese men for begging, 45 foreign workers for overstaying, and seven individuals for working without permits.

The department’s Director, Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus, revealed that the four Chinese men, aged between 36 and 67, were apprehended in a sting operation conducted between Sept 23rd and 24th. The men, who are believed to be part of a syndicate, were operating in the city centre, targeting locals with disabilities to evoke sympathy and earn substantial sums. Authorities estimate each beggar was earning around RM10,000 per month.

In a separate operation on Sept 24th, 45 foreign workers, including 22 Bangladeshis, 15 Myanmarese, a man from India, a Vietnamese woman, and an Indonesian woman, were arrested during a raid in Taman Daya. The operation, dubbed ‘Ops Mahir’, ‘Ops Dandan’, ‘Ops Belanja’, and ‘Ops Selera’, was carried out based on public information regarding foreign workers residing illegally in the country.

Furthermore, on Sept 23rd, a joint operation involving the police, immigration, Muar Municipal Council, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, and Labour Department resulted in the arrest of six Bangladeshi men and one Myanmarese man for working without permits in Muar. The individuals, aged between 20 and 48, were apprehended during the ‘Ops Bersama’ operation.

The arrested individuals are currently facing charges under various sections of the Immigration Act of 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations of 1963 for entering the country without valid travel documents, overstaying, violating the requirements of their visit pass, and abuse of social visit passes.

The Johor Immigration Department emphasized its commitment to combating illegal immigration and ensuring the safety and security of the country. The department urged the public to continue reporting any suspicious activities involving foreign nationals to the authorities.

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