Malaysian authorities have detained 235 undocumented immigrants including Bangladeshis in a series of raids conducted by the state Immigration Department.

Johor Immigration director Datuk Mohd Rusdi Mohd Darus said that 105 individuals were detained at a workers’ accommodation in Batu Pahat during a raid at approximately 1 am on Sunday, reports The Star.

“The operation was based on public reports about foreigners residing in the workers’ enclave without valid work permits or documentation. A total of 329 individuals were screened, resulting in the detention of 98 men from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan, and India, along with seven Indonesian women,” he said in a statement on Monday.

Additionally, 130 foreign nationals and two employers were apprehended in separate operations starting at midnight on Friday, he said.

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“We inspected 18 business premises, including factories and construction workers’ accommodations in Johor Baru, where 90 foreigners were taken into custody,” he added.

Further raids in Batu Pahat, Mersing, Muar, and Segamat resulted in the detention of 40 foreign nationals and two local men for various offences, the report added.

The detainees included individuals from China, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.

Mohd Rusdi said that the arrested foreigners, aged between 18 and 55, were taken to the Pekan Nanas Immigration depot for further investigation under the Immigration Act.