A man and a woman in their 40s were detained for investigations under anti-trafficking laws.

Perak CID chief Gan Tian Kee said the girls, aged between 11 and 13, were rescued in a two-hour operation from 11.15pm, with officers from the Anti-Vice, Gaming and Secret-Societies Division and the state welfare department.

“The suspects were believed to have been involved in the exploitation of the children to become beggars, sell medical herbs and Islamic calendar,” Gan said in a statement here today.

Police seized 376 bottles of medical herbs; RM2,993 in local currency and 100,000 in Indonesian rupiah; notebook with records of money collection; and two passports.

The police chief said the couple were remanded for five days, beginning today.

The 12 children have been placed for 21 days at a shelter for women and children in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan.