Serdang market raid: 72 foreigners nabbed, including 39 with refugee cards

The Immigration Department detained 72 foreigners, including 39 United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholders, during a raid on the Selangor Wholesale Market in Serdang, Selangor yesterday.

The raid was conducted between 1am and 4pm. Deputy Home Minister Ismail Mohamed Said said those arrested, aged between 20 and 50, were detained on suspicion of not having valid travel documents.

He said the UNHCR cards owned by the foreigners concerned were dubious. UNHCR cards are an identity document for refugees seeking placement in other countries. It has no legal status in Malaysia.

“Further investigations have to be conducted to ascertain the validity of the cards, as well as whether they have the necessary documents and work permits.

“They will be taken to the Selangor Immigration Department for further action," he told reporters after participating in an operation, code-named “Ops Patuh”, to monitor compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) of the movement control order (MCO) at the Selangor Wholesale Market.

He said Ops Patuh would continue by focusing on the misuse of approval letters issued by ministries, departments, and agencies.

Meanwhile, the operation also involved the participation of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.

The ministry's enforcement director, Azman Adam, said 42,552 premises nationwide were inspected from June 1 until yesterday (June 25) during which compounds amounting to RM2.03 million were issued for various offences.

- Bernama