472 illegal migrant workers arrested, including 57 Myanmar nationals, during Malaysian Immigration crackdown

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – A special operation (Ops Lacey) conducted jointly by the Malaysian Immigration Department and various government agencies in Kuala Lumpur resulted in the arrest of 472 illegal migrant workers, including 57 Myanmar nationals, the Malaysian Immigration Department announced on September 13. Approximately 2,500 foreigners were screened during the operation, and the 472 arrested foreigners included nationals from Myanmar, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, China, Zimbabwe, and Saudi Arabia. "All those arrested are 439 men and 33 women between the ages of 18 and 62. They will be detained at the Bukit Jalil Immigration Department for investigation and further action," said the Director of the Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department. The operation was carried out in response to complaints received about suspected illegal business activities, buildings where a large number of foreigners were gathered, and factories employing illegal foreign workers. Among those arrested were individuals without legal residency documents, those overstaying their visas, users of forged documents, and those who violated immigration laws. Kuala Lumpur is a crowded area, and migrant workers from other states often visit during weekends and holidays, which is why the operation was conducted and arrests were made during this holiday period. Furthermore, the Malaysian Immigration Department is also implementing a migrant worker repatriation program to allow illegal foreign residents to voluntarily return to their home countries. Malaysia plans to deport approximately 1,500 illegal Myanmar migrants, including Rohingya, in the last week of September, and two naval vessels from the military government will come to escort them.