KUANTAN: The Pahang Immigration Department detained 36 foreigners, believed to be working without valid permits, in a series of simultaneous operations conducted in three districts on Aug 5.
The department, in a Facebook posting, said the raids involving 16 enforcement officers were conducted between 1am and 7pm at 17 business premises in Lipis, Raub and the state capital.
"A total of 89 foreigners from Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, India, Nepal and Bangladesh were screened for documentation at various locations before 36 illegal immigrants, aged between 22 and 51, were detained.
"Those detained comprised 12 Bangladeshis, 11 Indonesians, eight Myanmar nationals, three Thais and one each from Vietnam and India," read the posting.
All the foreigners have been remanded for 14 days under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 at the Kemayan depot in Bera for further investigation.
The posting said the illegal immigrants were detained following a public tip-off about the presence of foreigners at the premises in the three districts.
The department is in the midst of tracking down the premises' owners.
Based on the footage of the raids codenamed Op Selera, Op Mahir and Op Minyak shared on the department's Facebook page, inspections were conducted at durian processing factories and farms in Raub.
The Immigration Department urged the public to provide information if they notice a large presence of foreigners to help the authorities curb the influx of illegal immigrants across Pahang.
"Strict action will be taken without any compromise against illegal immigrants and those who hire and provide protection to the illegal workers will face severe action," it said.