A well-known seafood restaurant in Taman Sentosa here was raided by the Johor Immigration Department (JIM) after it was suspected of illegally employing and harbouring foreign workers.
The operation, carried out under Ops Selera at around noon yesterday, resulted in the detention of 37 foreign workers believed to have been employed as waiters and cooks at the premises.
Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said the operation followed information received from the public as well as intelligence gathered on the alleged illegal employment of foreign workers.
He said checks at the restaurant found several workers who were unable to produce valid identification documents and work permits.
“Checks were then extended to the hostel area behind the restaurant, which was believed to be used as accommodation for the foreign workers.
“A total of 29 adult women and six adult men from Myanmar, as well as one adult man from Vietnam and another from Bangladesh, were detained.
“All those detained were aged between 19 and 49,” he said in a statement here today.
Mohd Rusdi said a local man, believed to be the restaurant manager, was also detained during the raid to assist with investigations.
The 37 foreign workers and the local man are suspected of committing offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
All detainees have since been placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation and action.
Three Form 29 documents, which are summonses issued to witnesses, were also issued during the inspection to assist investigations.
The operation reflects continued enforcement efforts by the authorities against employers who breach immigration regulations and engage foreign workers without the necessary legal documentation.
