Malaysian Immigration Department detains 139 foreigners and 20 locals in raids on 13 premises in Kuala Lumpur linked to prostitution activities
KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department detained 139 foreign nationals in a series of raids across the capital today.
The operation targeted 13 premises allegedly involved in prostitution and other immoral activities.
Enforcement Division director Basri Othman said the raids focused on areas popular with tourists and foreigners.
These areas included Jalan Petaling, Jalan Imbi and Jalan Pudu.
A total of 205 individuals were screened during the operation that began at 11.30 am.
The arrests included 139 foreigners for immigration offences and 20 local men believed to be caretakers of the premises.
The detained foreigners comprised 27 men and 112 women aged between 20 and 65.
They were nationals of Indonesia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Basri said the establishments offered services starting from RM60 per session.
The services were available to both foreign and local customers.
“The women worked on-site while their accommodation was rented elsewhere,” he told reporters.
Investigations revealed the premises operated 24 hours a day in two shifts.
Shifts ran from 6 am to 6 pm and continued until the next morning.
Customers could walk in without any prior booking.
Inspections also found the premises had been unlawfully modified with partitions.
“We will forward this information to the relevant local authority for enforcement action,” Basri said.
Authorities will investigate if the activities were run by a single syndicate.
All foreign detainees were taken to immigration depots for documentation and further action.
The depots are located at KLIA, Beranang and Semenyih. – Bernama
