Immigration nabs 30 foreign women in two raids in Kuchai Lama and Puchong

KUALA LUMPUR: Thirty foreign women, believed to be working as sex workers and guest relations officers (GROs), were detained following raids at a budget hotel in Kuchai Lama and an entertainment outlet in Puchong.

Immigration Department personnel also arrested four foreign men, who were workers at the outlets.

Immigration department director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the operations, codenamed "Ops Gegar" were conducted on Monday (Nov 1).

"In the first raid at a budget hotel, we detained 16 foreign women - seven Thai nationals, four Indonesians and three others from Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.

"We also detained a male Myanmar national who was working as the hotel's caretaker," he said in a statement on Thursday (Nov 4).

Initial investigations the women's sex services were priced between RM190 and RM240, he said.

"Customers choose the women and make payment online via Wechat and Telegram.

"Most of the customers were locals," he added.

The second raid was conducted at an entertainment outlet in Puchong, Khairul Dzaimee said.

"We detained 16 foreign women who were working as GROs and a male Indian national, who was an employee at the outlet.

"The GROs charge each customer RM50 to accompany them drinking but they imposed other charges if the customers wish to do anything "extra"," he said.

The foreign women made several attempts to evade capture but Immigration personnel managed to cordon off the area, he said.

"Those detained are being held at the Immigration depot in Semenyih.

"We are investigating various offences including overstaying and not being in possession of identification documents," he said.