DETAINED: Nineteen foreign workers were detained at Jalan 223 food court and taken to Selangor Immigration Department in Shah Alam

The raid was held at noon, the busiest time at the food court. The foreigners working as kitchen helpers, waitresses and cooks were unaware of the team's arrival and thought they were local council officers stopping for lunch.

Selangor Immigration Department deputy director Abdillah Azizudin said they had observed the eatery for about a week before moving in.

He said the workers, five men and 14 women, were from Indonesia, Bangladesh and India.

They were detained under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for overstaying, not possessing valid travel documents, working with expired permits and misusing their work permits or passes.

“In this case, the employer who hired the illegal workers stands a chance of being charged as well,” Abdillah said.

The workers were taken to Shah Alam for documentation before being sent to Semenyih and KL International Airport Immigration Centre.

In another operation, two Indonesian men were arrested during a joint operation by Ampang Jaya police, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council and Volunteer Corps (Rela) at an illegal settlement near Taman Ukay Perdana, Hulu Kelang.

The suspects, aged 30 and 50, were arrested for not having valid travel documents and were suspected to be involved in house break-ins.

Ampang Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Abdul Jalil Hassan said the operation, dubbed as “Ops Nyah”, was conducted following complaints from the public, claiming a rise in burglaries, robberies and snatch thefts in the area.

In the operation, many managed to slip through the dragnet. Police found several parangs in some of the 'kongsi' units.

Abdul Jalil assured residents that more operations will be conducted in the area from time to time.