Eighteen illegal immigrants thought that they have found a perfect safe spot by holing up in the comfort of an old folks home in Ampang.

However their luck ran out when the authorities got a sniff of this latest tactic when they mounted a raid early this morning.

A three-hour "Ops Nyah II" operation at the Nan Yang Old Folks Home in Tasik Permai, Ampang and the surrounding areas since 1.30am today netted 175 Indonesian, Burmese and Bangladeshi nationals, including the 18 at the old folks home.

Ampang Jaya district police chief ACP Abdul Jalil Hassan said the immigrants, comprising 85 men, including a disabled, 60 women and 30 children, were detained for not having valid personal identification and travel documents.

"In the raid at the old folks' home, it was found that there were only eight local senior citizens staying there and 18 others were illegal immigrants who had been renting the place for five months," he told reporters after the operation.

He said police would investigate the old folks home and would take necessary action against the owner.

It is learnt that the illegal immigrants were renting the place for RM300 to RM400 a month for a room.

- Bernama