Immigration Department says enforcement against illegal immigration, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling will continue to intensify, ...
Immigration Department says enforcement against illegal immigration, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling will continue to intensify, while 58 foreign workers were also detained during raids on two e-waste processing factories.
Kuala Lumpur:
Malaysia's Immigration Department (JIM) has announced that 41,596 undocumented migrants were detained nationwide as of 15 July 2026 during ongoing operations targeting illegal immigration.
According to Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, the arrests were made during 7,105 enforcement operations, in which immigration officers inspected a total of 96,994 individuals.
Zakaria said the department will continue strengthening enforcement against illegal immigration, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling.
He explained that investigations and enforcement actions are being carried out under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM), the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and other relevant legislation to ensure effective enforcement of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
He stressed that the department would utilise all legal powers available against individuals involved in immigration-related offences, particularly those who remain at large.
"We will continue taking firm action without compromise. We do not want immigration-related crimes to become a serious problem for the country," he said.
58 Foreign Workers Detained in E-Waste Factory Raid
As part of the nationwide enforcement efforts, immigration authorities also carried out a coordinated operation targeting two electronic waste (e-waste) processing factories.
The operation began at 11:00 a.m. and involved 77 officers from the Immigration Department, the Labour Department, and the Department of Environment.
During the raid, authorities detained 58 foreign nationals, aged between 20 and 45, after they were unable to produce valid documents proving their identity or immigration status.
According to Zakaria, preliminary investigations suggest that the workers' immigration documents may have been retained by their employer.
He explained that the workers were first taken into custody, after which immigration officers would contact the employer to verify each worker's immigration status.
CCTV Allegedly Used to Monitor Enforcement Officers
Zakaria also revealed that the factories were equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems that were allegedly used to monitor the movements of law enforcement personnel.
According to him, workers would reportedly hide or attempt to flee whenever they received advance warning of an immigration raid.
He said immigration officers had encountered similar tactics in previous enforcement operations, where surveillance systems were allegedly used to alert workers before authorities entered the premises.
Government Intensifying Immigration Enforcement
Malaysia has significantly increased immigration enforcement operations in recent months as part of the government's efforts to strengthen compliance with immigration laws.
Authorities say the operations are intended to combat illegal employment, prevent immigration-related offences, and curb crimes such as human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
To achieve these objectives, multiple government agencies continue to conduct joint operations, investigations, and monitoring activities across the country.
Sources: Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM)
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