Immigration Raids Luxury Bungalow Used for Illicit Activities, 40 Foreign Nationals Arrested

PUTRAJAYA, Feb 13: The Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) has arrested 40 foreign nationals following a special operation at a three-story luxury bungalow in Persiaran Ritchie, Desa Pahlawan, believed to have been used for illicit activities.

The raid was carried out at 12.27am by the department’s Intelligence and Special Operations Division after receiving public tip-offs and conducting two weeks of surveillance.

Immigration deputy director-general (Operations) Datuk Lokman Effendi Ramli said a Chinese national suspected of being the main mastermind behind the immoral activities was detained along with 39 others.

Those arrested comprised 11 men and 19 women from China, five women from Vietnam, and two women each from Myanmar and Japan, with ages ranging between 21 and 43.

Initial checks revealed that the alleged mastermind and another Chinese man possessed valid employment passes, while six Chinese men, 19 Chinese women, two Japanese women, and five Vietnamese women held social visit passes. The remaining individuals were found to have no valid travel documents or passes to remain in Malaysia.

Lokman Effendi said the bungalow had been modified and fully equipped to facilitate illicit activities and was strategically located in an upscale residential area to avoid detection by authorities.

He added that male Chinese workers acting as “sales agents” were responsible for sourcing clients through online platforms, targeting both foreign and local customers of Chinese ethnicity.

“The services were offered at rates of RM1,000 for 45 minutes and RM3,500 for 90 minutes, and the operation is believed to have been running for about six months,” he said.

The suspected mastermind is being investigated under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963. Two other Chinese men and two Myanmar women are being investigated under Section 6(3) of the same act.

Meanwhile, nine Chinese men, 19 Chinese women, two Japanese women, and five Vietnamese women are being investigated under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.

Lokman Effendi said strict enforcement action will continue against premises involved in illegal and immoral activities, especially those misusing immigration passes.