Malaysian immigration police have arrested 49 foreign workers who did not have valid immigration permits to stay in Malaysia (undocumented) in a special operation conducted in Johor state.

The department conducted a surprise ‘Aps Sapu’ operation on Saturday at 16 shuttered houses and residential houses in the Taman Johor Jaya area. According to local media, Immigration Director Datuk Mohd Rushdi Mohd Darus said those arrested are aged between 20 and 49.

During monitoring, the department found that all those arrested did not have valid travel documents and had exceeded their prescribed period of stay. He said that although some people tried to escape and hide on the roof during the raid, they were all taken into custody.

All those arrested have been detained at the Setia Tropica Immigration Detention Centre for further investigation and legal action. They are being investigated on suspicion of violating the Immigration Act 1959/63.

The Johor Immigration Department said that such operations will continue with the aim of making the state free of undocumented immigrants.