James Masing
KUCHING (June 20): The Sarawak Immigration Department arrested 22 illegal immigrants during a raid of a swiftlet business premises at Tabuan here around 4pm Friday.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing in a statement said three suspects believed to be employers of the illegal immigrants were also detained.
“The raid was carried out after a recent video showing a lorry that was parked behind a private hospital was shared on social media platforms,” said Masing who is also chairman of the Security Control Committee.
The video shows the lorry was transporting illegal immigrants. Immigration officers started their intelligence works based on the video on Friday.
“However, it was later discovered that the location of the incident was not as shown on social media,” said Masing.
Acting on new information, the department’s Special Operations Unit (Quick Response Team) sprang into action Friday and raided a premises which looked similar to the one shown in the video.
The raid, which started at 2pm, saw the arrest of the illegal immigrants comprising eight men and 14 women found hiding on the third floor of the premises.
“The three local suspects believed to be employers of the illegals immigrants are also detained in the operation as they are believed to be in cahoots with a smuggling syndicate in Sarawak,” he added.
Masing added that preliminary investigation revealed that the foreign suspects had entered the country through an ungazetted path (Jalan Tikus) at a farm in Kpg Biawak, Lundu.
It is also believed that their entry was assisted by locals.
“Investigations also show that the illegal immigrants were brought to Kuching from Lundu using a lorry. Efforts to track down the lorry driver to assist in the investigation is underway,” he added.
All the foreigners, meanwhile, were brought in for Covid-19 tests based on the SOPs.
They are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations and Passport Act 1966, while the three locals are detained to assist in the investigation.