KUCHING: The State Immigration Department detained 46 illegal immigrants from Indonesia in an operation codenamed ‘Ops Ikrar’ at Taman Samarindah and Kota Samarahan here recently.
It was believed that majority of the illegal immigrants had entered the country through jungle roads via Serikin and other illegal pathways (jalan tikus) led by certain parties.
Immigration Department Director-General, Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali who also took part in the operation said the illegal immigrants who worked at several construction sites in the area were detained for failing to produce valid travel documents and abusing social visit pass.
“These illegal immigrants are getting more cunning in evading arrests. In this operation which began from 1.30am until 5.00am, several of them were caught hiding in special compartments in the walls while several others, who armed themselves with machetes, became aggressive when being apprehended.
“It appears that putting a machete behind a door and use it against immigration enforcement officers has becoming a trend. Besides the machetes, we also found and confiscated several sharp objects during the operation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mustafar disclosed that from January until March this year, the State Immigration Department had carried out a total of 251 operations throughout Sarawak.
From the total, he said 4,593 immigrants were inspected and 781 of them were detained for various offences under the Immigration Act, 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations, 1963.
Mustafar also said last year a total of 26,446 immigrants were inspected and 2,190 of them were detained and 3,024 of them were deported to their respective countries.
