26 foreigners detained in immigration swoop on Lundu plantations

LUNDU: Two oil palm plantation workers’ accommodations here accounted for 26 of the 30 foreigners detained in an overnight immigration operation across Lundu and Kuching.

The Sarawak Immigration Department said ‘Ops Sapu’ was conducted from 7pm on Monday (Oct 12) to 5am on Tuesday (Oct 13), with 22 enforcement officers deployed to four locations.

In Lundu, 23 foreigners were detained at an oil palm plantation workers’ quarters after 29 people were checked.

The other three were arrested at a shared workers’ accommodation in another oil palm plantation, where four people were inspected.

Meanwhile in Kuching, the operation covered two rented rooms in Saradise and Chonglin Park, where the remaining four foreigners were taken into custody.

The foreigners being rounded up by immigration enforcement officers during the overnight ‘Ops Sapu’.

The 30 detainees comprised 25 men and five women, including 29 Indonesians and one Thai national.

They are suspected of offences under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.

The department said it would continue enforcement operations to deter immigration infractions and ensure compliance with the law.

Employers and premises owners are advised to ensure foreign workers possess valid documents and passes to curb issues of immigration non-compliance in Sarawak.