GEORGE TOWN, Sept 2 — Thirty-five out of 153 foreign workers screened in a 6P integrated operation at two worker quarters in Bayan Lepas early today were arrested for not having valid travel documents.
Penang immigration enforcement chief Basri Othman said the illegal immigrants, who were made up of 15 Indonesians, Myanmar (17), Bangladeshi (one), Vietnamese (one) and Sri Lankan (one), were sent to the Seberang Jaya Immigration Office.
He said an Indonesian woman, who left her one-month old baby daughter behind during the raid, was among those arrested.
Several foreign workers managed to flee through a river near the quarters, he told reporters at the scene.
A premise in Bayan Lepas, which has secret society symbols on several doors, was also raided in the operation which started at 12.30am and ended at 3am.
No arrests were made at the premise but Basri did not rule out the possibility that several workers there could be involved in triad activities.
He said 60 officers and men from the Immigration Department, the National Anti-Drug Agency, the National Registration Department and Rela took part in the raids following several days of surveillance.
The 6P integrated operation is aimed at those who registered under the Illegal Immigrant Comprehensive Settlement Programme in 2011 (6P) but did not turn up for further processing, including legalisation and voluntary deportation. — Bernama
