KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department has detained 19 foreign women following a two-week intelligence operation into beauty centres and spas used as fronts for illegal activities.
The raids, conducted by the Intelligence and Special Operations Division, began at 2.44pm on Jan 27 across three locations in the city and one in Puchong.
Those detained include 12 Filipinos, six Vietnamese and one Mongolian, aged between 22 and 48.
Initial checks revealed three Vietnamese women held social visit passes, the Mongolian woman had a student pass, and all 12 Filipinos held domestic helper passes.
The remaining women lacked valid travel documents.
Officers seized nine Filipino passports, three Vietnamese passports and one Mongolian passport, 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 operated under the guise of legitimate beauty centres to mislead authorities.
The outlets displayed signboards and offered beauty treatments as a front, while illegal services were promoted privately through Telegram and WhatsApp to selected customers, he said in a statement today.
He said customers were initially offered standard massages before being given a secret code to access additional services.
The interiors of the premises had been modified and fitted with security systems.
“Authorities believe the syndicate had been operating since March last year, charging customers between RM180 and RM250 per session.
“All 19 foreign nationals are being investigated for offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and have been taken to the Immigration Department office in Putrajaya for further action. Seven local men were also issued notices to appear to assist with investigations,” he said.
Zakaria said the department would continue firm enforcement against activities that violate national laws to safeguard stability.
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