KUCHING: Three entertainment outlets at different locations quickly turned into a scene of panic and arrests when immigration officers burst in and rounded up 46 foreign individuals over the weekend.
Acting on gathered intelligence, the Sarawak Immigration Department’s Special Task Force (PTK) carried out the raids dubbed ‘Ops Gegar’ here, Bau and Serian from May 17 to 18.
Caught off-guard, several individuals made frantic attempts to flee into nearby forested areas under the cover of darkness, but officers were one step ahead and swiftly intercepted every escapee.
A total of 71 individuals were screened as officers swept through three entertainment centres believed to be employing and harbouring undocumented foreigners.
Of the figure, 42 Indonesian women, three Indonesian men, and a Filipina woman, were taken into custody for offences such as overstaying, misuse of social visit passes, and failure to produce valid travel documents.
All detainees have since been placed at the Immigration Detention Depot pending further investigation.
The case is being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
Meanwhile, owners of the raided premises were served witness summonses to assist with investigations.
