7-7-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) In a sweeping crackdown on illicit activities, Malaysian authorities have detained 39 foreign women, including 22 Thai nationals, for allegedly offering clients massages with sexual services. The arrests were made during a series of raids conducted at massage parlours across multiple locations in Kuala Lumpur and the adjoining state of Selangor.
The joint operation, spearheaded by the Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division, a specialized task force under the Malaysian police force, took place on Friday. However, details of the bust were not disclosed until Sunday, as reported by the New Straits Times.
Mohamad Farouk Eshak, a senior official from the division, provided insights into the operation, revealing that the arrested women hailed from various Southeast Asian nations. “We arrested 39 women aged between 19 and 50 who were suspected of working as masseuses and sex workers,” he was quoted as saying.
Among the detainees, 22 were Thai nationals, while the remaining individuals included six Lao, five Vietnamese, five Indonesians, and one Cambodian.
The raids targeted 10 different locations across Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, where the authorities uncovered evidence of the women offering illicit services to their clients. According to Mohamad Farouk Eshak, the suspects could face charges of prostitution and illegal entry, as they had declared the purpose of their trip as a “social visit” upon entering Malaysia.
Investigations revealed that the women allegedly charged clients between 60 and 120 Malaysian ringgit for a traditional massage. However, customers were required to pay an additional fee ranging from 150 to 320 ringgit if they desired to include sexual services as part of the package.
