In a swift and coordinated operation late Tuesday night, Malaysian immigration authorities arrested 770 undocumented migrants in Bukit Bintang, one of Kuala Lumpur’s
busiest nightlife districts. The two-hour operation, code-named Ops Belanja, took place from 7:30pm until the early hours of Wednesday, creating a significant law enforcement presence and turning the area into a heavily restricted zone.
Among those detained, 394 were Bangladeshis, marking the largest group of foreign nationals involved in the operation. The crackdown, led by Immigration enforcement director Basri Othman, saw a total of 2,445 individuals checked, including 1,600 foreigners and 845 locals. Other arrested individuals included nationals from Myanmar, Nepal, India, and Indonesia.
Basri Othman, overseeing the operation, explained that many of the detainees were caught for overstaying visas, lacking proper identification, or engaging in unauthorized employment. Some migrants attempted to hide under tables, inside storerooms, and even on rooftops to evade capture.
Authorities carried out three weeks of surveillance prior to launching the operation in Bukit Bintang, a hotspot known for its high concentration of undocumented workers due to the thriving nightlife and foreign-run businesses in the area. “This area has become a magnet for undocumented migrants,” Basri said.
In addition to the arrests, authorities also uncovered an illegal gambling den, where several foreigners were detained for online betting activities. While no counterfeit travel documents were found during the operation, authorities are continuing their investigations into the detainees’ backgrounds.
The operation is being pursued under Malaysia’s Immigration Act 1959/63, including several relevant sections, and highlights the ongoing enforcement efforts to crack
