PETALING JAYA: A key member of a syndicate responsible for smuggling in undocumented migrants from Thailand to work as massage therapists in Johor Baru has been arrested.
The detention of the man, who is in his 40s, led to the arrest of 18 Thai women and three other men, all in Johor Baru.
Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud said in a three-day operation in Johor which began on July 21, they caught the man in a car in Taman Pelangi, Johor Baru.
He said there were four Thai women in the car and all did not have any valid work passes.
“They were believed to be on the way back to Thailand via illegal routes.
“Follow-up raids were made at the man’s home where several documents were found that showed evidence of the syndicate activities in and out of Johor Baru.
“The syndicate had been actively bringing in foreigners from Thailand to work as massage therapists in Malaysia,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (July 27).
Khairul Dzaimee said two locations were identified leading to more raids in Taman Austin and Taman Abad.
"The department arrested 18 Thai women and three men that had been working as massage therapists. Two other locals, who were the shopkeepers, were also arrested.
"The modus operandi involves managing the Thai workers’ entry into the country with visitor passes, and their employment at massage centres in and out of the state.
“The syndicate would use contacts in Thailand to influence men and women to come to Malaysia to work," he said.
Khairul Dzaimee said immoral services were also offered by the syndicate, adding that those who caused trouble would be sent back home via illegal routes.
He said the syndicate would charge between RM1,300 and RM1,500 per worker and it was believed that they could reap profits as high as RM30,000 per month.
“Owners of the massage parlours are believed to have been able to rake in around RM50,000 by employing these illegal workers,” he said.
