Simultaneous raids were carried out in Kuchai, Sri Petaling and Cheras on July 9 at premises suspected of harbouring foreign sex workers, said immigration director-general Zakaria Shaaban, Bernama reported.

“These operations were disguised as budget hotels, offering sex services with prices ranging from RM160 to RM480,” Zakaria said, adding that the syndicate promoted its services online, with transactions arranged via chat messaging.

In the first raid at 3pm, enforcement officers arrested 26 foreign women – 11 from Vietnam, eight from Indonesia, six from Thailand and one from Myanmar, believed to be offering sexual services.

Two men from Bangladesh and Pakistan were detained, as well as four Malaysians acting as “guardians” of the premises.

A second operation at 10.55pm was launched at an entertainment centre allegedly employing foreign guest relations officers, where 61 were arrested, including 44 Thai women, four Laotians and two women each from Vietnam and Myanmar.

Also detained were five Bangladeshi men and four Thai men suspected of working at the venue, while seven Malaysians were issued notices to report to the immigration headquarters to aid investigations.