Of 2,500 foreigners searched, 472 were detained — and 364 of them were Bangladeshi. The figures emerged from a mega enforcement raid in the busy Lebuh Pudu and Jalan Silang Kotaraya “Bangla Market” area of Malaysia’s capital, Kuala Lumpur. Around 77 percent of the foreigners detained in the raid were Bangladeshi.
Malaysia’s immigration department launched its “integrated mega law enforcement operation” around 11am local time on Sunday (September 13), based on complaints received about the presence of foreign nationals and suspicious illegal business activity. Over several hours, 472 foreigners aged 18 to 62 were detained, including 439 men and 33 women.
An analysis of the detainees’ nationalities also showed a clear majority of Bangladeshis. After the 364 Bangladeshis, 57 were from Myanmar, nine from the Philippines, eight from Nepal, seven from Indonesia, seven from Pakistan, six from India, three from China, and one each from Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia.
Immigration department Kuala Lumpur regional director Datuk Hamsa Injau said those detained were accused of various immigration law violations, including lacking valid identification or necessary documents and overstaying their permitted time in Malaysia.
The raid created a tense situation in Lebuh Pudu. Sensing the presence of enforcement teams, several foreigners tried to flee, leading to scuffles with immigration officers during some of the detentions. Several business premises and worker accommodation blocks were locked from the inside, so their locks were broken to allow searches.
During the searches, several suspicious setups were found on the upper floors of buildings, which authorities suspect were being used as brothels. A shop found selling illegal drugs to foreigners was also identified.
As news of the raid spread, several business premises in Lebuh Pudu and Kotaraya quickly emptied out. Local reports said some foreigners tried to disguise themselves as ordinary customers at currency exchange counters to avoid detection.
A total of 337 officers and personnel took part in the operation, including 218 from the immigration department. The remaining 119 were from Kuala Lumpur City Hall, the domestic trade and cost of living ministry, the national registration department, and the health ministry.