Twenty-one foreigners have been arrested by police in Ho Chi Minh City for failure to identify themselves during an inspection, officials said on Tuesday.

Officers from the Immigration Department under the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Police, in coordination with competent agencies, on Monday carried out an inspection of immigrants who have been living in several hotels and apartments in Go Vap District.

Many of the foreigners attempted to flee when they saw the officers but were surrounded by police.

Of 52 foreigners, who are of African origin, questioned by police officers, 21 failed to present legitimate identification papers and were then taken to the local police station.

Twelve of the detained foreigners did manage to show their ID cards but they were outdated and not accepted, Colonel Pham Ngoc Tien, head of the city’s Immigration Department, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Tuesday evening.

The twelve will be given administrative penalties and requested to leave the country, Col. Tien said, adding that organizations that wish to bail the detainees will be invited to the police station for a discussion.

The others, who were unable to show any documents proving their identity, will be punished in accordance with the law, according to the colonel.

The inspection was part of authorities’ efforts to stop foreigners from illegally staying in Ho Chi Minh City, he added.

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