Foreigners hiding behind the dumps were captured.

BINTULU, Sept. 23: The actions of foreigners trying to avoid being detained by hiding under the workers' accommodation including behind a garbage dump failed when their hiding place was successfully detected by operatives.

The Bintulu Unified Immigration Enforcement Unit and the Bintulu Regional Marine Police Force conducted from 10 am on September 21 to 6 am yesterday.

The operation was headed by Bintulu Division Chief Immigration Officer Presely Geoffrey with the involvement of 20 Sarawak Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) officers and nine members of the Bintulu Region Marine Police Force.

According to JIM Sarawak, a total of six locations around Bintulu town were inspected through Ops Selera, Ops Mahir and joint operations.

"At the time of the inspection, some foreigners were on the run before trying to hide in difficult locations including the basement of a worker's partner's house.

"Operators had to sneak into a narrow space and inspect the garbage heap gaps to identify the individuals involved before they could stop them", the statement said.

In total, 127 individuals were examined with 84 foreign nationals detained, consisting of 67 adult males, 16 adult females and one boy.

Of those, 82 are Indonesians and two are Filipinos.

All those arrested were taken to Bekenu Immigration Depot for further action under the provisions of the immigration law in force.