The Immigration Department has detained 19 foreign women following a two-week intelligence operation targeting beauty centres and spas suspected of being fronts for illegal activities.
The raids were carried out by the Intelligence and Special Operations Division beginning at 2.44pm on Jan 27, involving three locations in the city and one in Puchong.
Those arrested comprised 12 Filipinas, six Vietnamese nationals and one Mongolian, aged between 22 and 48.
Initial checks found that three of the Vietnamese women held social visit passes, the Mongolian woman possessed a student pass, and all 12 Filipinas were on domestic helper passes. The remaining individuals were found to be without valid travel documents.
During the operation, officers seized nine Filipino passports, three Vietnamese passports and one Mongolian passport, along with five mobile phones, a QR payment scanner, business ledgers, Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) documents and RM1,500 in cash believed to be proceeds from illegal activities.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the premises were operating under the guise of legitimate beauty centres to mislead authorities.
He explained that the outlets displayed signboards and offered beauty treatments as a cover, while illegal services were discreetly promoted to selected customers through Telegram and WhatsApp.
“Customers were initially offered standard massage services before being given a secret code to access additional services,” he said in a statement today, adding that the interiors of the premises had been modified and equipped with security systems.
Authorities believe the syndicate has been operating since March last year, charging between RM180 and RM250 per session.
“All 19 foreign nationals are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and have been taken to the Immigration Department office in Putrajaya for further action. Seven local men have also been issued notices to appear to assist with investigations,” he said.
Zakaria added that the department would continue strict enforcement against activities that violate national laws to protect public order and security.
