The Immigration Department has detained 152 foreign nationals following a major enforcement operation targeting an alleged prostitution syndicate operating within a hotel and entertainment premises in the Changkat area.
The raid, carried out at around 1.30am yesterday, was conducted jointly with the Customs Department after public complaints and two weeks of intelligence gathering by enforcement officers from the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya.
A total of 131 Immigration officers and four Customs officers were deployed in the operation, which involved inspections at a hotel and an entertainment outlet believed to be linked to immoral activities across several floors of the building.
Authorities said initial findings indicated the hotel had become a frequent hotspot for foreign visitors, particularly Chinese nationals, allegedly drawn by exclusive entertainment services linked to prostitution packages involving foreign women.
A total of 243 individuals were screened during the operation, comprising 194 foreigners and 49 Malaysians. Of those checked, 152 foreigners aged between 21 and 32 were detained for suspected immigration-related offences.
The detainees included 129 Chinese nationals, alongside individuals from Taiwan, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Türkiye and Vanuatu.
The Immigration Department said all those detained are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963, and have been placed at the Putrajaya Immigration Depot for further action.
Seventeen witness summonses were also issued as part of the ongoing investigation.
Officials added that the entertainment venue, believed to have been operating for about three months, was tightly controlled by security personnel and reportedly catered to high-paying VIP clients, with package prices ranging from RM50,000 to RM100,000 for exclusive rooms.
During the raid, some individuals were reportedly found in a disoriented state, absorbed in loud music and initially unaware of the presence of enforcement officers before the operation was carried out.
