Kuala lumpur: The Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) detained 69 foreign nationals, most of them working as guest relations officers (GROs), in an 'Ops Gegar' raid at an entertainment outlet along Jalan Imbi early this morning.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, JIM's deputy director-general (Operations) Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli revealed that 198 individuals were screened during the operation, with those detained mainly hailing from Thailand, Vietnam, and China. The primary offence noted was the misuse of social visit passes for employment purposes, particularly as GROs. Lokman Effendi emphasized that individuals on social visit passes lack valid work permits, and firm action will also be taken against employers who are found hiring them, with appropriate charges filed.

The raid commenced around midnight and involved efforts to apprehend several individuals who attempted to escape by climbing staircases and hiding on the rooftop. However, these attempts were thwarted by the authorities. The operation was executed by 89 Immigration officers in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). During the raid, JKDM also seized several bottles of alcoholic beverages suspected of evading tax.

In a broader context, Lokman Effendi mentioned that JIM conducted 106 'Ops Gegar' raids nationwide between January and April 7, screening over 1,800 individuals and detaining 670 foreign nationals for various offences. The majority of the arrests involved nationals from Thailand, China, and Vietnam, with more than 400 detained.

All 69 individuals apprehended in the latest raid have been transported to the Semenyih Immigration Depot in Selangor for subsequent legal proceedings.