More than 2,600 foreign nationals have been rounded up in Moscow for being in violation of immigration laws in a widespread sting, the Federal Migration Service said Tuesday.
The "Illegal-2012" operation was carried out by the FMS in tandem with law enforcement agencies all across the country from May 10 to 31, FMS spokesperson Zalina Kornilov told Vesti.
Kornilov said the agency worked with police to check food production facilities, including meat-processing plants and restaurants, as well as clothing shops, factories, construction sites, residences and other industries.
At one dormitory for foreign workers, 62 of the 253 foreign nationals living there were in the country illegally, she told Itar-Tass.
About 500 of those who were arrested have already been deported from Russia as part of the operation, which Kornilov said had already resulted in fines totaling 20.7 million rubles ($620,000).
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