| Danial Norjidi |
THE Enforcement Section of the Immigration and National Registration Department conducted a joint operation dubbed ‘Ops Bersepadu JIPK 12/2016’ on February 18.
The operation involved 137 officers from seven enforcement agencies, including the Labour Department, Religious Enforcement Division, Royal Customs and Excise Department, Internal Security Department, Royal Brunei Police Force BSB (Criminal Investigation Department, Interpol and Human Trafficking Investigation Unit) and Narcotics Control Bureau.
The operation, which ran from 10.30pm to 3.45am, was conducted with the aim of uniting the country’s enforcement agencies in sharing information to enforce their respective laws and regulations to carry out an operation together. The ultimate aim was to maintain peace in the country.
Inspections were carried out at rented rooms and houses resided in by foreign nationals to ensure that they hold valid immigration passes and that foreign nationals living as couples are legally married.
Head Officer of Immigration filters through the documents provided
A foreigner fails at an attempt to evade enforcement officials. – PHOTOS: DEPARTMENT OF IMMI-GRATION AND NATIONAL REGISTRATION
Specifically, the operation targeted rented rooms in three private apartment buildings as well as one rented house in Mukim Kianggeh.
It was also conducted to identify rented rooms and houses that have the potential and are believed to be hiding contraband, according to provided information.
The operation resulted in the Immigration and National Registration Department temporarily detaining 13 foreign nationals (seven women and six men) for failing to produce a valid immigration pass.
Additionally, during a check at a rented room, a female foreigner was found hiding in a storage space near the ceiling of the room trying to avoid capture. She was, however, detected by enforcement officers.
The operation also resulted in the discovery of one case of a local individual being in possession of cigarettes without the health warning in a rented room. The case is under the Law Enforcement Division of the Royal Customs and Excise Department.
A case involving a female foreigner and a local man saw the two fail upon inspection to produce any documents proving they are married. The case is being handled by the Religious Enforcement Division.
Meanwhile, six female foreign nationals registered as housemaids and one male foreign national registered as a private driver were detained for the offence of living away from their employer, and encouraging the employer to commit an offence under Section 112 (1) of the Employment Order 2009, where conviction can result in legal action being taken under Chapter 112 (3) of the same Order that carries a fine of not less than $6,000 and not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment of six months, not exceeding three years, or both.
This case is being handled by the Enforcement Division of the Labour Department.
The Immigration and National Registration Department said that it welcomes the cooperation of the public to together share information linked with immigration offenders.
Those who come forward with information will be kept anonymous. Information can be shared through the department’s hotline at 8734888 and 8753888.
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