TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Class 1 Tangerang Immigration Office arrested 24 African nationals in a Tangerang city apartment.

“When the raid was launched, they were carrying out similar activities; operating laptops and other electronic devices,” said office head Felucia Sengky Ratna on Friday, November 26.

Officers carried out the raid in the early hours of Friday and found 24 foreigners in the rented rooms doing similar activities.

Felucia said the activities were quite suspicious. They occupied 15 rented rooms in the apartment. “They have lived in the apartment for three weeks,” she added.

However, she could not yet conclude whether or not the activities were related to cyber crimes. “We are still investigating and working on it.”

Officers also confiscated 50 cell phones and 19 laptops. Based on preliminary examinations, 12 of them are Nigerian nationals and the others'nationality remained unknown as their immigration documents have not been found yet.

“But it is confirmed that they violated the immigration law. Twelve of them did not own the appropriate immigration documents and travel visas while the other 12 did not have stay permits and have overstayed,” Felucia explained.

Felucia also said that the raid was launched based on the reports of the public who were disturbed by the activities of the foreigners. “They gathered in groups and were sometimes noisy. Many were disturbed and worried.”

Read: Tangerang Immigration Office Reveals Violations Committed by Foreigners

JONIANSYAH HARDJONO