JOHOR BAHRU: Police have detained 129 individuals following separate raids on three entertainment centres around Muar and Iskandar Puteri today.
Johor police chief Commissioner M Kumar said all individuals, comprising both foreigners and locals, were detained at entertainment centres suspected of offering services of guest relations officers (GRO).
"Acting on information received, a team of officers and personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Johor police headquarters and the Criminal Investigation Division from Iskandar Puteri police headquarters conducted three separate raids on entertainment centres around Muar and Taman Nusa Bestari, Iskandar Puteri between 12.15am and 1.30am today.
"As a result of the raids, we successfully detained two local men, one local woman, 15 foreign men, and 111 foreign women, all aged between 18 and 47 years," he said in a press statement today.
He said during the raids, police also seized 14 receipts, various musical instruments, and cash amounting to RM4,210.
He added that preliminary urine tests conducted on three local male visitors and seven foreign women were positive for ketamine, methamphetamine, and benzo.
"Further investigation revealed that two of the raided entertainment centres did not have valid licenses, while the other one was operating beyond the permitted hours.
"The arrests and seizures were then brought to the Muar and Iskandar Puteri police headquarters for further investigation," he explained.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 6(2) of the Johor Entertainment and Places of Entertainment Enactment (ENJ) 4/98 for operating without a valid entertainment license and Section 11(2) of the same enactment for violating any imposed conditions or restrictions.
The case is also being investigated under Section 55B of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for employing individuals other than citizens or entry permit holders without a valid pass, Section 15(1)(C) of the same act for overstaying in Malaysia, and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not possessing valid travel documents.
"We are also investigating under the provision of Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for misuse of social visit passes and Section 15(1)(A) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for self-administration or administration of drugs to others," he added.
Meanwhile, Kumar said his department would not compromise with any unlicensed entertainment centres offering foreign women as GROs and involved in drug abuse.
