More People Caught For Immigration Violations This Year

Bandar Seri Begawan - Since early January till March 44 people of different nationalities were apprehended for violating the country's immigration violations.

The number shows an increase for the same period last year where 25 people were nabbed.

For the last three months last year, the immigration department made 25 arrests in operations carried out in line with the immigration acts.

The department said the operations were intended at protecting the country's security and the prosperity of the population.

The department's enforcement unit is also studying the existing laws and regulations in an effort to meet current needs.

This includes reviewing the power of law enforcement officers in carrying out their operation.

The department said 64 arrests they made during the first three months of this year involved foreigners and locals.

Their arrests were made during surprise operations and checks at immigration control posts.

The department also reported the surrender of foreign workers who faced problems with their employers.

The surprise operations were made possible with the cooperation of other law enforcement agencies aimed at ensuring that the country's law and regulations were not violated.

According to the department's enforcement unit, 92 people paid compounding fees for breaking the immigration law and regulations.

As a result of the summonses, the unit collected a sum of $41,900.

From October to December last year, the department compounded 117 cases.

The total amount of fines they collected was $56,200.

The department also said they sent home 289 people for breaking the immigration law and regulations.

Most of them had overstayed their visit passes, or committed cross border violations and took up employment by using visit passes.

The department also recorded this year cases involving employers who recruited immigration offenders.

Foreign workers who have been sent home were also said to have involved in other negative activities contravening the country's law and order. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei

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