A total of 222 people, including 209 foreign women allegedly working as guest relations officers (GROs), were detained during raids on 12 entertainment outlets across Johor early Sunday.
Johor police chief Datuk AB Rahaman Arsad said the operation was conducted between 2.15am and 9am, involving personnel from the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters and district police headquarters across the state.
He said the 13 outlet caretakers detained comprised 10 Malaysians and three foreign nationals, aged between 20 and 53.
The 209 women, aged between 19 and 40, were made up of 93 Vietnamese nationals, 87 from Thailand, 11 from Laos, seven Indonesians, six Myanmar nationals and five Filipinos.
“They were found to have committed various offences, including immigration-related offences,” he said in a statement on Sunday.
Police are investigating the case under several provisions, including Section 11(2) of the Johor Entertainment and Places of Entertainment Enactment (ENJ) 4/98 for breaching entertainment licence conditions or restrictions.
The investigation also involves Sections 6(1)(c), 15(1)(c), 55B and 55E of the Immigration Act 1959/63, as well as Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1959/63.
AB Rahaman said background checks found that seven of those detained had previous criminal or narcotics-related records.
Initial urine screening also showed that 44 of the suspects tested positive for drugs.
He said the 13 outlet caretakers were remanded under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code, while the 209 foreign women were detained under Section 51(5)(b) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 to assist with further investigations.
The large-scale operation reflects Johor police’s continued efforts to monitor entertainment premises and curb activities that could affect public safety and order.
AB Rahaman stressed that the Johor police would continue taking firm action against offences that threaten public security, while maintaining efforts to safeguard peace and the well-being of the state’s residents.
