PETALING JAYA: A total of 107 foreign nationals were detained in a late-night raid on two elite entertainment outlets in Kepong after they were found to be without valid travel documents or passes.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the operation, dubbed Ops Gegar, was carried out by the Intelligence and Special Operations Division of the Immigration Department on Friday (Feb 27) at about 11pm in the Kepong small industrial area in Kuala Lumpur.
He said 224 individuals were inspected during the operation, comprising 171 foreign nationals and 53 locals.
“Initial screening led to the detention of 107 foreign nationals, namely 65 women and three Thai men, 18 Vietnamese women, 11 Bangladeshi men, seven Laotian women and three Indonesian women,” he said in a statement on Saturday (Feb 28).
The operation was conducted following two weeks of intelligence gathering and public tip-offs by the Special Tactical Team (PASTAK).
He added that several items believed to have been used in the operation of the premises, including payment chips, necklaces, computer sets and closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, were also seized.
Zakaria said preliminary intelligence found that the premises were guarded by security personnel, while the foreign women were managed by individuals acting as coordinators or “mummies” who arranged customer services and stage performances.
“Service payments were believed to be determined using a coloured card system, with rates ranging from RM100 to RM1,314,” he added.
He said all the foreign nationals have been detained at the Lenggeng Immigration Depot for further action and are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966 and Immigration Regulations 1963.
Meanwhile, seven locals were issued notices to appear at the Immigration office to assist in investigations.
Zakaria stressed that the department would not compromise with any party found breaching immigration laws, including offences under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM).
