Kuala lumpur: A total of 29 illegal immigrants were detained by the Kedah Immigration Department during Ops Kutip, Ops Sapu, and Ops Gegar operations carried out in the Kuala Muda and Kota Setar districts.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the two-day operation, which started yesterday, involved inspections at four premises in both districts and saw 124 individuals checked, comprising 81 locals as well as 43 foreigners. Out of that number, 29 foreigners, comprising 19 men and 10 women aged 20 to 50 were detained. They comprise 10 Vietnamese nationals, eight Bangladeshis, six Thais, four Myanmar nationals, and a Laotian woman, believed to have committed offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63.

The department stated that 19 officers from its Kedah enforcement division's action unit took part in the operation, focusing on locations suspected of employing and harbouring undocumented foreigners. It added that during a raid at a night market here, several local employers tried to hide the foreign workers they employed.

Employers believed to be illegally hiring the foreigners shouted at their workers to flee as soon as they noticed the enforcement officers. However, quick action, a well-organised cordon, and the efficiency of the operations team thwarted the attempt, leading to the arrest of all the individuals believed to have committed immigration violations.

The department reported that 10 Form Imm.29 (Summons to Witness) notices were issued to assist in investigations, while all the detained foreigners were taken to the Belantik Immigration Depot for further action.