SHAH ALAM, Sept 23 – The Immigration Department (JIM) detained 60 individuals, including 53 passengers and seven drivers, in an operation targeting a transport service suspected of ferrying undocumented migrants in Kajang and Putrajaya.
Enforcement officers intercepted seven vans carrying foreign passengers during the operation organised on September 21.
JIM said six of the vans were driven by foreign nationals, comprising five Bangladeshi men and one Indonesian man.
The Malaysian driver and owner of the remaining van was also detained, according to The Star.
JIM said the six foreign drivers did not have valid travel documents or passes and did not possess valid driving licences and some were also found to be using probationary driving licences.
“Initial investigations found that some of the foreign drivers claimed to receive between RM1,600 and RM1,800 a month from the van owners, who are believed to be Malaysian citizens, to provide the service.
“Initial investigations also found that the foreign nationals were believed to have used the van service to travel to and from their workplaces around Kampung Dato’ Abu Bakar Baginda, Kajang and Putrajaya for about RM100 a month,” the department said.
JIM also seized all seven vans for allegedly being used to commit offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
The drivers were also detained for investigation under Section 55E of the same Act.
“JIM is tracking down the van owners to assist in the investigation and further action,” it said.
The department also said the 53 passengers comprised 44 Indonesians, including 12 men and 32 women, eight Bangladeshi men and one Myanmar man.
JIM said the individuals, aged between 18 and 59, were detained for allegedly not possessing valid travel documents or passes.
All those detained have since been sent to the Putrajaya Immigration Depot for further action.
