KUALA LUMPUR – Ten Bangladeshi men were arrested during a joint operation by the Immigration Department and the Health Ministry targeting clinics operated by unlicensed foreign doctors at nine locations in the capital yesterday.
According to Immigration Director-General Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, the raids focused on six premises along Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin, two on Leboh Pudu, and one on Jalan Silang.
The operation, which began at 11.45 am, involved officers from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division of the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya, supported by the Enforcement (Pharmacy) Division of the Health Ministry for Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
It also included personnel from the enforcement divisions of JIM’s Perak and Perlis state offices.
“Based on public complaints and two weeks of intelligence gathering, the operation successfully detained 10 Bangladeshi men aged between 31 and 50,” he said in a press release today.
“Preliminary checks revealed that one of the detainees held a Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS) under the services sector, six others were under the construction sector, two had overstayed their visas, while another possessed no valid travel documents.”
Zakaria explained that the syndicate’s modus operandi involved offering medical treatment through unlicensed Bangladeshi doctors, targeting their compatriots. The activities were concealed behind eateries or grocery shops to evade detection.
“Unregistered and unauthorised medications, believed to have been smuggled into the country by Bangladeshi visitors posing as tourists, were sold at prices ranging from RM200 to RM500 per person,” he said.
“Treatment and medication fees ranged from RM50 to RM200 per customer, and the operation is believed to have been running for a year.”
Zakaria added that authorities confiscated counterfeit medical equipment, medicines, and RM800 in cash, believed to be proceeds from treatments and sales.
“A total of 502 types of unregistered medicines, valued at an estimated RM265,192, were seized by MOH,” he said.
The foreign nationals are suspected of violating Section 13(a) of the Poisons Act 1952, Regulation 3(1) of the Poisons (Psychotropic Substances) Regulations 1989, and Regulation 7(1) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984.
Zakaria noted that all detainees were held under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963 and subsequently sent to the Putrajaya Immigration Depot for further action.
“Additionally, two Bangladeshi men and six Malaysian women were issued notices to report to the authorities to assist in the investigation,” he added. – January 24, 2025