78 illegal immigrants including 3-year-old girl detained in Penang

BUKIT MERTAJAM: A total of 78 illegal immigrants, including a three-year- old girl, were detained in an operation, code-named Ops Ikrar, at several locations in Seberang Jaya and Butterworth yesterday.

A spokesman for the Penang Immigration Department said the operation, from 1am to 2pm, involved raids at various premises, including housing area, factories and food stalls.

In the operation at Taman Desa Sembilang, Seberang Jaya here, 140 foreigners were rounded-up and 15 of them, comprising 10 Bangladeshi, three Indonesians and one each from Myanmar and Nepal, were detained for various offences under the Immigration Act, he said.

He said 16 illegal immigrants, comprising 10 Vietnamese and three each from Nepal and Bangladesh, were detained during a raid at a plastic factory in Jalan Bagan Lalang, Butterworth.

The operation also covered several eateries, where a total of 21 illegal immigrants, comprising Bangladeshi (eight), Myanmar (six) Indonesia (five) and Nepal (one) were detained for not having valid travel documents.

He said five locals were also detained for allegedly employing illegal immigrants.

The remaining 26 illegal immigrants were detained during raids at several locations in George Town, including at entertainment outlets.

The immigrants comprised two Indonesians, including the three-year- old girl, five each from Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh and four from Vietnam.

Also detained were their employers, he said, adding that the immigrants would be sent to the Juru detention centre for further investigation, he said. — Bernama