A wellness centre in Terengganu suspected of offering massage services by foreign women was raided by the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) during a special operation in Kampung Dalam on Sunday night.
The raid, conducted at about 9.30pm, came after immigration enforcement officers went undercover as customers and allegedly confirmed that the premises was employing foreign women as masseuses.
During the operation, more than 10 local customers were reportedly inside the premises waiting for their turn to receive massage services.
Terengganu Immigration director Mohd Yusri Mohd Nor said six foreign women, comprising four Chinese nationals and two Thai nationals aged between 20 and 32, were arrested.
He said the women are suspected of committing offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Immigration Regulations 1963 for allegedly not possessing valid passes or permits, as well as breaching the conditions of their immigration passes.
All six women were taken to the Ajil Immigration Detention Depot for further investigation. A local man in his 40s, believed to be the operator of the wellness centre, was also issued a notice to appear before the Terengganu Immigration Department to assist investigations for allegedly harbouring and employing undocumented foreign workers.
In the same operation, immigration officers also detained six more foreign nationals following inspections at two restaurants in Kampung Manir and a house in Kampung Batu Burok.
Overall, authorities inspected 76 foreign nationals, with 12 arrested for various immigration offences. Four show-cause notices were also issued to local individuals suspected of harbouring or employing foreign nationals illegally.
