A total of 114 undocumented migrants were detained during a series of enforcement operations conducted by the Sabah Immigration Department (JIM) across three districts, with Tawau recording the highest number of arrests in a sweeping crackdown carried out yesterday.
The coordinated operations, involving Ops Bersepadu, Ops Sapu, Ops Mahir, Ops Kutip, Ops Belanja and Ops Jaja, were carried out in Tawau, Lahad Datu and Sandakan as part of ongoing efforts to curb the presence of illegal immigrants and ensure compliance with national immigration laws.
Sabah Immigration Director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said a total of 108 individuals were screened in Tawau alone, resulting in 61 arrests for various offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Such large-scale enforcement actions reflect continued concerns over undocumented migration and regulatory breaches involving foreign nationals in the state.
Of those detained in Tawau, 54 were Filipino nationals comprising 53 adult men and one adult woman, while others included a Pakistani man and six Indonesian nationals involving both men and women.
In Lahad Datu, 86 individuals were checked, with 35 foreigners detained, including Filipino and Indonesian nationals, among them adults and children.
Authorities also confirmed that in Sandakan, 64 individuals were inspected, resulting in the detention of 18 foreigners involving Filipino and Indonesian nationals.
The multi-district operation highlights the scale of enforcement efforts being carried out across Sabah, particularly in areas identified as high-risk for immigration offences.
Across all three districts, a total of 258 individuals were inspected, with 114 detained for suspected violations of immigration regulations.
JIM Sabah reiterated that it will not compromise with any individuals or employers found to be violating immigration laws, and strict action will continue to be enforced statewide.
Authorities stressed that continued enforcement operations are necessary to maintain order and address the challenges posed by irregular migration in the region.
