Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the operation was mounted following complaints that illegal immigrants had been carrying out fishing activities in the coastal areas and that it was affecting local fishermen’s catch.

“Following the complaint, we carried out our own investigations and also used drones in areas which were difficult to access,” he told a press conference in the village last night.

According to Khairul, the operation which started at 11.30pm, involved 90 officers from Putrajaya and Perak, as well as fire and rescue department personnel.

“We detained a total of 48 men, 11 women and one child, aged 10.

“Of the number, 37 are Myanmar nationals and 23 are Indonesians aged between 25 and 50,” he said.

He said preliminary investigations found that the illegal immigrants travelled here by sea. He added that some have been working here for 15 years.

The owner of the vessels which brought them into the country and those who hired these illegal immigrants to work at their premises would also be investigated, he added.

“They have been taken to the Immigration Department depot in Langkap for further investigation and after serving their sentence they will all be deported and blacklisted from entering the country,” he said.