Berita Harian reported that the suspects, aged 17 to 50 years old, were arrested in an operation from June 20 to July 1 around Johor Bahru and Kulai in Johor.

Johor police chief M Kumar said the syndicate, which had been operating since last November, had its female members create fake social media accounts to entice its victims into making lewd video calls.

He said they would then send the victim a mobile link, which would access the victim’s photo gallery and contact list when clicked.

“The syndicate persuaded its victims to commit lewd acts on video calls, which would be recorded and used to blackmail them for money.

“The victims were generally forced to make payments of RM500 to RM1,000, and threatened with the distribution of their lewd videos to their contacts, including their family,” he said.

Kumar said the syndicate also recruited non-schooling teenagers on social media as workers, paying them RM2,200 to RM4,000.

He said they would be trained before being forced to work in other countries, such as Indonesia, Laos, and Thailand.

The raids saw the rescue of three such victims, aged 15 to 16 years old.

“These teenagers would be locked up and forced to work 12 hours a day, and beaten if they refused to cooperate.

“Though they were given two-week breaks, their movements were still controlled and their mobile phones and identity cards confiscated.

“Those looking to quit would have to pay RM30,000 to be set free,” he said.

Kumar said the raids saw the seizure of 27 mobile phones, identity cards, flight tickets, money exchange receipts, laptops, 49 SIM cards and a modem, among others.

The suspects in custody, including the mastermind, are being investigated under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, as well as the National Registration Regulations 1990, Passport Act 1966, Penal Code and Societies Act 1966.