Malaysian immigration authorities have arrested 112 African nationals for various immigration offences between January and October 2026, with Nigerians accounting for the highest number of detainees, according to figures released by the country's Immigration Department.
The department's director-general, Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, said 53 Nigerians were among the 112 African nationals detained during enforcement operations conducted up to October 31. Ugandans recorded the second-highest number, with 13 arrests, followed by Kenyans with 10 and Ghanaians with eight.
The figures were reported by Malaysian newspaper Utusan Malaysia on Friday, November 13, and subsequently covered by other media outlets.
According to the figures, the remaining detainees included six Somalis, six Tanzanians, four Senegalese, three Algerians, two nationals each from Burkina Faso, Togo and Gambia, as well as one person each from Guinea, Zimbabwe and Libya.
The statistics indicate that Nigerians accounted for nearly half of the African nationals arrested during the ten-month reporting period.
Nigerians Record the Highest Number of Arrests
Zakaria said the most common immigration offence involved entering or remaining in Malaysia without a valid pass or permit.
A total of 85 people were arrested for this offence under Section 6(1)(c) of Malaysia's Immigration Act 1959/63. Nigerians accounted for 47 of those arrests.
Another 23 individuals were detained for overstaying their authorised period of stay under Section 15(1)(c) of the same legislation.
Three people were also arrested for violating the conditions attached to their immigration passes under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.
In addition, one Nigerian national was arrested for allegedly possessing a false document under Section 56(1)(l) of the Immigration Act.
The authorities also detained an Algerian employer under Section 55B for allegedly employing foreign workers without valid immigration passes.
The figures cover arrests involving African nationals over the first ten months of the year and should be distinguished from separate enforcement operations conducted in November.
Separate Immigration Raid Detains 59 Foreigners in Selangor
In a separate operation, Malaysian immigration officers detained 59 foreign nationals during inspections at eight business premises across Selangor on November 12.
The operation followed approximately two weeks of intelligence gathering and public complaints that some commercial premises were allegedly being used to accommodate undocumented migrants and provide hiding places to avoid detection by immigration authorities.
According to the department, officers inspected 152 people during the operation. They included 75 Malaysian citizens and 77 foreign nationals.
Of the 77 foreigners inspected, 59 were detained. The group comprised 53 men and six women suspected of various immigration offences, including failing to possess valid travel documents, overstaying and misusing immigration passes.
The operation involved 17 enforcement officers from the Immigration Department's headquarters in Putrajaya.
Authorities also issued three Form 29 notices, which serve as witness summonses, to individuals at the inspected premises to assist with further investigations.
The 59 detainees were taken to immigration detention depots for investigation and possible further action under Malaysia's Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
The authorities have not identified the nationalities of all 59 people detained in the Selangor operation in the reports available.
Malaysia Warns Employers and Property Owners
Zakaria said immigration enforcement would continue against individuals found violating the country's immigration laws.
He also warned that action could be taken against employers, property owners and other parties found to be employing, accommodating or harbouring foreigners without the required immigration documents.
The department said using business premises as accommodation or hiding places would not prevent immigration officers from conducting investigations, surveillance and enforcement operations.
The warning reflects the Malaysian authorities' position that responsibility for immigration violations does not rest exclusively with foreign nationals. Employers and other parties who facilitate unlawful employment or accommodation may also face legal consequences.
Immigration Compliance Remains a Major Issue
Malaysia continues to rely on foreign workers in several sectors of its economy, making immigration documentation and employment regulations important issues for both workers and businesses.
The latest figures highlight the enforcement attention being directed at foreigners who enter or remain in the country without valid permission, as well as employers who fail to comply with the rules governing foreign-worker recruitment.
For Nigerians and other African nationals living, studying or working in Malaysia, the figures serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining valid immigration status, complying with visa conditions and ensuring that employment arrangements meet Malaysian requirements.
However, an arrest or detention does not by itself establish that an individual has been found guilty of an immigration offence. The circumstances of each case remain subject to investigation and the applicable legal process.
The Malaysian Immigration Department says it will continue enforcement operations against immigration violations and parties found to be facilitating them.