THE Immigration Department detained 67 illegal immigrants during an operation at an illegal settlement in Nilai Spring near Seremban at 1.30am today. 

State immigration director Kennith Tan Ai Kiang said the department detained Indonesian nationals aged between two months and 72. 

He said the department’s surveillance found there was a school at the settlement teaching children the syllabus of a neighbouring country, adding that it was powered by several generator units.

“The personnel involved in the operation had to walk about 1.2km through a jungle area to get to the settlement, which is situated on uneven, swampy land scattered with traps and dogs roaming the area. 

“Eleven men, 20 women, 20 boys and 16 girls were detained. Some of them tried to escape and acted aggressively to avoid being taken in,” he said in a statement today. 

He said initial surveillance found that the immigrants built the settlement over two years ago, adding that upon inspection, authorities found weapons such as spears and machetes.

“All detainees are at the Lenggeng Immigration Depot for further investigation. The state Immigration Department is identifying whether the settlement was built on private or state government land,” he said, adding that those nabbed are being held under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966, and the Immigration Regulations 1963 for not having valid travel documents and overstaying their visas, among other offences. – Bernama, February 1, 2023.