Johor Immigration Arrests 160 Foreign Nationals in Mersing and Johor Baru Operations

JOHOR BARU, Jan 27: The Johor Immigration Department arrested 160 foreign nationals during two separate enforcement operations carried out in Mersing and Johor Baru, targeting immigration offenses and undocumented employment.

Johor Immigration Director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the first operation took place at 12.40am on Jan 26, involving raids on five residential premises in a remote village near Mersing.

During the operation, authorities uncovered attempts by employers and local intermediaries to mask the identities of foreign tenants through rental arrangements.

“Eleven foreigners aged between 22 and 45 were detained for various offenses under the Immigration Act 1959/63,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

The detainees consisted of five Pakistani men, three Indonesian men, two Bangladeshi men, and one Indonesian woman. All were believed to be residing illegally at the premises and have been placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot for further investigation.

Immigration officers also issued two summonses to witnesses to assist with the investigation.

In a separate operation later the same day, immigration officers detained 149 foreign nationals at a construction site in Seri Alam, Johor Baru, at about 2pm. The individuals were suspected of working without valid documents.

Mohd Rusdi said the operation was conducted in a planned and coordinated manner to detect violations, including the employment of undocumented foreign workers and the misuse of social visit passes.

“The situation became chaotic when several workers attempted to flee and hide within the construction site. However, officers swiftly secured all exit routes, preventing any escape,” he said.

The detainees, aged between 18 and 55, comprised 104 Bangladeshi men, 21 Indonesian men, 13 Pakistani men, six Myanmar men, four Nepalese men, and one Indian man.

All 149 individuals are being investigated for offenses under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963 and have also been placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot.

Four additional summonses were issued to witnesses in connection with the second operation.