KUALA LUMPUR: Eight Myanmar men suspected to have recently entered the country illegally were arrested in an integrated operation at the Kuala Lumpur wholesale market near Selayang this morning.
Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Datuk Yahaya Othman said a local man, believed to be the 'tekong' who brought in the illegal immigrants, was also nabbed in the operation jointly conducted by the police, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Immigration Department and National Anti Drugs Agency.
"All the men, aged between 20 and 40, were arrested under Section 5 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007," he told a press conference after the operation.
Present at the press conference were Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias and Sentul district police chief Assistant Commissioner Beh Eng Lai.
Yahaya said police also arrested 18 foreigners who tested positive for drugs.
He said 400 immigrants were inspected in the operation for drug abuse and gangsterism.
Meanwhile, Jalaluddin said his ministry, in collaboration with other enforcement agencies, would continue to conduct operations to ensure business premises in the city adhere to their licensing conditions.
"In today's operation, three business premises at the wholesale market were sealed for being rented out to and run by foreigners," he said.
He advised traders not to hire illegal immigrants or rent out their business premises to them, adding that City Hall would take firm action against anyone who breached their business licence conditions. --Bernama
