LANGKAWI: The Immigration Department on Sunday raided a two-storey shophouse here which had been turned into an entertainment centre believed to have been offering foreign women for sex services.
Thirty-three such "guest relations officers" (GRO) were detained in the raid codenamed Op Gegar held there and in other premises.
Kedah Immigration Department director Mohd Ridzzuan Mohd Zain said the operation, which began at 11.30pm, was conducted by the enforcement division's intelligence and operations unit.
He said the premises was located in the middle of town, as it was believed this was a strategic location to attract men who wanted "special treatment".
"At that particular location, we detained 21 Thai women aged between 19 and 38, for various offences. Checks were also conducted at several other locations, where we detained another 12 foreign women," he said when contacted.
Ridzuan said the operation was carried out based on public complaints against foreign women who were believed to have been carrying out immoral activities at entertainment outlets.
"The foreigners were believed to have abused social visit passes or did not possess valid travel or identification documents.
"The cases are being investigated under the Immigration Act, Passport Act and Immigration Regulations," he said.