JOHOR BARU: A total of 51 foreign women, comprising Vietnamese and Chinese nationals, were arrested during a midnight police raid at a karaoke outlet in Taman Sentosa here.
Johor Criminal Investigation Department chief Senior Assistant Commissioner Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the raid was done under Ops Noda, an operation to clamp down on illegal vice activities in the state.
The raid was carried out at an outlet located at the Lien Hoe Complex in Taman Sentosa here at 12.10am by a team of 20 police personnel from the state police headquarters, Johor Baru Selatan and Kulai police stations.
Kamarul said the raid was also prompted by complaints that the premises was operating until the wee hours.
"The women comprising 30 from China and 21 from Vietnam were aged between 22 and 32. A 45-year old man believed to be the karaoke outlet operator was also arrested during the operation," he said.
Kamarul said the foreign women were detained for several offences under the Immigration Act, which includes failing to provide valid travel documents while the 45-year old operator was being investigated for operating the karaoke outlet beyond opening hours as regulated under Section 11(2)/of the Johor State Enactment 1998.
Kamarul said all the detainees have been brought to the Taman Pelangi police station here to facilitate investigation.