Immigration Raids Fake Foreign Doctors Syndicate in Pudu, 18 Detained

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14: The Malaysian Immigration Department has busted an illegal syndicate involving foreign nationals posing as doctors and providing unlicensed medical services in a special operation in Pudu.

In a coordinated raid on nine premises along Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin on Thursday afternoon, authorities detained 18 foreign men aged between 24 and 51, including six individuals who were pretending to be medical practitioners.

The operation, which began at 4pm, was carried out by the Immigration Department’s Special Tactical Team (PASTAK) under the Intelligence and Special Operations Division, in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur Health Department’s Pharmacy Enforcement Branch, following two weeks of intelligence gathering.

Immigration deputy director-general (Operations) Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli said the premises were operating under the cover of legitimate businesses such as sundry shops, textile outlets, eateries, travel agency counters, and barber shops, while the back rooms had been converted into makeshift consultation rooms and storage areas for unregistered medicines.

He said most of the clients were Bangladeshi nationals who sought treatment due to lower charges and ease of communication in their own language.

Inspections revealed that the premises were supplying medicines that should only be dispensed with specialist prescriptions. Among the drugs seized were treatments for diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol, as well as antibiotics and painkillers, all of which were not approved by the Ministry of Health.

Initial investigations indicated that the medicines were smuggled into Malaysia in bulk by visitors from Bangladesh before being distributed to the premises and sold for RM50 to RM100.

“All 18 suspects, 17 Bangladeshi nationals and one Myanmar national, were arrested under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Immigration Act 1959/63 for offenses including having no valid travel documents, misuse of passes, and overstaying,” Lokman Effendi said.

He warned that enforcement action would continue against illegal medical practices, stressing that unlicensed treatment poses serious risks to public health.