Bangladeshis among 297 illegal immigrants held in Malaysia

The Malaysian immigration authorities have detained 297 illegal immigrants, including Bangladeshis, living inside seven containers in Semenyih town of Selangor state.

The authorities checked 326 people at the spot before detaining 297 of them during the raid carried out early on Friday, Free Malaysia Today quoted the chief of the Immigration Department as saying.

Some 96 of the detainees hail from Bangladesh, according to media reports.

The others include illegal immigrants from several countries, including Indonesia, Ghana, Myanmar and Vietnam.

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The raid was carried out after receiving complaints from locals, said Immigration Department Director General Khairul Dzaimee Daud.

Some residents had complained that there were settlements in the area that were overcrowded, did not adhere to hygiene guidelines and had potential to be breeding grounds for Aedes mosquitoes, Daud said.

Most of the detainees work in manufacturing and construction, while some have their own business.

The authorities also suspect that some women at the place are involved in immoral activities.