Kuala Terengganu: The Immigration Department detained 15 illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh during the "Op Sapu dan Kutip" here yesterday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Terengganu Immigration director Mohd Yusri Mohd Nor stated that the immigrants, aged between 22 and 52, were apprehended at five premises on a residential building construction site between noon and 7 pm. He noted that while the immigrants initially acted as though they had committed no offence, checks revealed that some had entered the country without permission, while others had overstayed their visas.

"We inspected 54 foreign nationals during the operation, which was carried out in collaboration with several other agencies," Mohd Yusri said. He explained that, in addition to cases of overstaying and entering without permission, there were violations involving the terms of their passes. The investigations are being conducted under Section 15(1)(c) and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, as well as Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.

Furthermore, Mohd Yusri reported that a notice was issued to a 26-year-old local man suspected of harbouring illegal immigrants.