ALOR STAR, Nov 27 — A Bangladeshi illegal immigrant literally found himself in deep water when he plunged into a river to escape from state immigration enforcement officers.
The 36-year-old struggled to swim across the river as his escape to freedom was marred by strong currents.
Unable to keep afloat, the man surrendered to the enforcement officers about 4.30pm in the incident yesterday.
Kedah Immigration Department director, Mohamad Yusri Hashim said the suspect who worked at a recycling centre was plucked from the river to facilitate investigations.
“He tried to swim across the river but strong currents prevented his bid to escape,” he said in a statement here today.
He said the foreigner was nabbed during an immigration operation dubbed ‘Ops Sapu’ to inspect a recycling centre in Alor Mengkudu, Alor Star, and a residence in Mukim Jeneri, Sik.
In the operation, 29 illegal immigrants comprising 18 Bangladeshi, six Nepalese and five Cambodians aged between 22 and 51, were arrested for various offences.
They are being held in the immigration lock-up at Bangunan Kementerian Dalam Negeri, Alor Star, to facilitate investigations prior to being sent to the Belantik Immigration Detention Depot in Sik.
In JOHOR BARU, 85 illegal immigrants of various nationalities were detained in an operation at Flat Meranti in Jalan Perdagangan, Taman Universiti Skudai near here early today.
They comprised 68 men and the rest, women.
State immigration department enforcement chief, Masri Adul said the suspects, aged between 18 and 50, were renting flat units owned by locals.
The three-hour raid began about 4am, he told reporters after the raid.
He said the illegals comprised 29 Indonesians, 22 Bangladeshis, 17 Nepalese, 11 Myanmars, three Sri Lankans, two Indians and a Vietnamese and a Pakistani.
Masri said that during the raid, enforcement officers were forced to break down doors in some instances, as the occupants refused to open the doors.
“At the same time, one of the illegals jumped from the first floor of the flat building to escape but was caught.
“We have been receiving complaints from many people on the flat tenants who were consuming alcohol and causing problems to the residents here,” he said, adding the illegal immigrants were taken to the Ministry of Home Affairs Complex in Taman Setia Tropika here.
Meanwhile in KOTA KINABALU, the police detained 54 Philippine illegal immigrants under ‘Ops Nyah Bersepadu’ early today.
Acting city police chief, DSP Yong Thien Foh said the five-hour operation which began about 2am was mounted in three squatter areas, namely Kampung Cempaka, Kampung Menggorok and Bentayan Tayap in Luyang.
He said the illegal immigrants were detained following a police screening of 127 individuals, including eight Indonesians and a local.
“During the operation, seven men tested positive for drugs,” he said in a statement here today. — Bernama
