At least 53 Nigerian nationals were among 112 undocumented African migrants arrested by Malaysian immigration authorities during enforcement operations conducted between January 1 and October 31, 2026.
​According to a report published on November 13, 2026, by the Malaysian daily newspaper Utusan Malaysia, Nigerian citizens accounted for the highest number of African nationals detained during the 10-month nationwide crackdown. The enforcement figures were officially released by the Director-General of Malaysia’s Immigration Department, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban.
​The arrests stemmed from continuous intelligence-led raids across Malaysia targeting foreign nationals violating immigration laws. According to the Immigration Department, the detainees were apprehended for several offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
Authorities noted that the violations primarily involved individuals failing to possess valid travel documents or entry permits, remaining in the country after the expiration of their visas or passes, and misusing temporary employment, student, or social visit passes.
​Alongside the 10-month data release, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban detailed a separate enforcement operation conducted in the state of Selangor on November 12, 2026, which netted an additional 59 undocumented foreigners. The raid commenced at 1:00 PM local time following two weeks of surveillance and public tip-offs.
During the operation, a team of 17 enforcement officers from the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya inspected eight commercial and business premises in Selangor suspected of being used to shelter undocumented migrants and evade detection.
Out of 152 individuals screened—comprising 75 Malaysians and 77 foreigners—officers detained 53 foreign men and six foreign women, while also issuing three Form 29 witness summonses to individuals at the venues to assist with ongoing investigations.
​All detained individuals have been transferred to immigration detention depots across the country for further investigation and subsequent deportation proceedings.
Datuk Zakaria reiterated that the department will continue to intensify surveillance and enforcement operations against both undocumented migrants and employers or property owners found harbouring them.
