KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 — A total of 44 foreigners and three locals were arrested for various Immigration offences and Internet fraud in a joint operation under ‘Ops Tiong’ at 10 shophouses in Taman Sri Kuching, Kepong here early this morning.

Deputy Director of Intelligence Operations of the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department, Bukit Aman, Datuk Mohd Rodwan Mohd Yusof said they comprised of 37 Nigerians, four Africans, a Ghana national, two Filipinos and three locals.

“They were in all 36 men and 11 women, all aged between 20 and 45 years,” he told reporters after the five-hour operation.

The operation, which began at 12.30am, was carried out by 242 police officers and personnel and 40 Immigration officers and personnel.

Mohd Rodwan said of the total, 22 people were arrested for offences involving commercial cyber fraud, African scam, parcel scam and black money.

A total of 25 others were handed over to the Immigration Department for further action for offences related to visas and travel documents.

“Police also seized 11 units of laptops, 10 mobile phones and RM500 cash in the operation,” he said.

He said many of the suspects also abused their social visit passes and modified their student visas. — Bernama