Illustration image
By: Nurul Fazliana Norman
JOHOR BAHRU: August 13, 2026 – The Johor State Immigration Department (JIM) has dismantled a foreign worker supply syndicate during Ops Serkap at three locations around Johor Bahru on Monday, detaining 123 foreign workers and seizing cash amounting to RM776,614.
The operation, which began at 7.20 pm, was conducted based on public information and intelligence gathered over approximately two months by the Enforcement Division of the Johor State Immigration Department.
During the raid, two Bangladeshi men believed to be the syndicate’s “masterminds” were arrested on suspicion of misusing Temporary Employment Visit Passes (PLKS) to supply foreign workers to factories around Johor Bahru.
Also detained were a Bangladeshi man and a Myanmar national believed to be acting as “supervisors.”
The operation team also seized 450 worker payslips attached with envelopes containing cash totalling RM776,614, along with two laptops, a Nepalese passport, two cash-counting machines, a bank cheque book, and a Toyota Corolla Cross.
Initial checks revealed that 123 foreign workers, aged between 20 and 49, were detained for various immigration offences.
All detainees have been remanded for 14 days and placed at the Setia Tropika Immigration Depot for further investigation and action.
Johor State Immigration Director, Datuk Haji Mohd Rusdi bin Mohd Darus, said JIM Johor will continue to crack down on syndicates and illegal agents to curb the illegal recruitment and placement of foreign workers in the state.
Source: Johor State Immigration Department
