Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director M Kumar said they also arrested 14 others, including the mastermind of the syndicate, Bernama reported.

They comprise 11 Malaysians (including three women) and three Indonesian women.

Kumar said they were operating under the guise of a foreign employment agency.

The women rescued were aged between 20 and 47. Some of them had been in the country for between five months and 13 years.

Police also seized RM1.05 million in cash, 71 Indonesian passports and three vehicles during the raid, Kumar added.

He said the syndicate deceived victims with job offers in factories and companies, promising them salaries of between RM2,000 and RM3,000.

“However, upon arriving in Malaysia, the victims were confined in five houses and forced to work as housemaids, restaurant assistants and salon workers.”

The syndicate controlled the victims’ movements by sending and picking them up from their workplaces, in addition to withholding the promised wages.

“The victims were also threatened with harm if they tried escaping from home or the workplace,” Kumar said.

Kumar added that all the Malaysian suspects had been released on police bail pending further investigations and will be charged for trafficking.

The foreign suspects were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

The victims have been granted an interim protection order for 21 days.