Dhaka: Malaysian Immigration Department has detained six Bangladesh nationals as the Southeast Asian country launched countrywide drive against the illegal migrants staying there.

A total 971 illegal migrants were held in an overnight crackdown nationwide. Among the detainees, 161 are Nepalese, 10 Indonesians, 8 Myanmar nationals, four Sri Lankans, one Indian and 22 Chinese nationals, according to Malaysian media outlets.

Earlier on Friday, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid said foreign workers without valid documents or have overstayed in the country will be arrested and sent back to their country of origin.

Quoting director-general of the Malaysian Immigration Department Datuk Sakib Kusmi, Malaysian state-owned news agency Bernama in a report from Putrajaya said in the 12-hour operation that started at 10pm Friday, 2,182 foreign nationals were screened.

He said the offences they committed included not having identification documents, overstaying and holding unrecognised cards of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

‘Those detained will be placed at immigration detention depots for investigation and follow up action,’ he was quoted as saying in a statement on Saturday.