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Published: Saturday January 1, 2011 MYT 3:39:00 PM

Johor Immigration Dept detains 65 illegal immigrants in Ops Sapu

JOHOR BAHARU: The Johor Immigration Department arrested 65 illegal immigrants from Cambodia in an operation dubbed 'Ops Sapu' in Kampung Mulia, Sungai Tiram, here early Saturday.

Its deputy assistant director II Amzari Abdul Jalil said the operation, mounted by 80 enforcement officers, began at 2.30am and ended two hours later.

"The Cambodian nationals arrested during the operation comprised 13 men, 37 women and 15 children, all of whom were aged between three months and 45 years," he told reporters here.

Amzari said all the immigrants claimed that they had a permission letter, which they deemed as passport, to work and stay legally in Malaysia.

"They showed us the 'passport', which is actually a piece of paper bearing the official stamp and signature of the Secretary of Cambodian Community Special Committee for Peramu Jaya state constituency in Pekan, Pahang," he said.

Amzari said the immigrants were believed to have been cheated by a syndicate and further investigations were being carried out. All immigrants were taken to the Pekan Nanas Detention Depot, he said. - Bernama