KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — A syndicate offering foreign women as guest relation officers (GROs) through WhatsApp was busted following a raid by the Selangor Immigration Department at a premises in Sungai Way, Petaling Jaya last night.
It said 30 foreign women, aged between 18 and 40, from Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand were arrested in the operation, which began at 10pm.
“They are believed to have entered the country as tourists using social visit passes, which were later misused,” the department said in a statement today.
It added that initial investigations revealed customers could make GRO bookings through WhatsApp, after which the women would be taken to the designated location.
During the raid, some of the women attempted to deceive enforcement officers by claiming to be locals, but the ruse failed. Several also tried to escape and hide, but were eventually arrested.
No untoward incidents occurred, except for minor provocation from members of the public believed to be regular customers at the premises.
“The syndicate is believed to have engaged agents to bring the women from their countries of origin and arranged accommodation for them at a nearby condominium,” the department said, adding that the women were detained under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966, and the Immigration Regulations 1963.
