PUTRAJAYA, Sept 25 — The Immigration Department (JIM) detained seven Indonesian nationals believed to be working as beauty therapists in a special operation at four locations in Shah Alam, Pandan Perdana and Kepong last Wednesday.

JIM, in a statement today, said those detained comprised one man and six women aged between 19 and 44.

The operation, which began at 12.15 pm, involved personnel from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division of the Immigration Department headquarters in Putrajaya, with the cooperation of the Pharmacy Enforcement Division from the Putrajaya, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Health Departments.

“Based on public information and a month-long intelligence gathering, the operation team was deployed to the residential premises.

“The team also seized medicines, treatment and beauty equipment, a mobile phone and RM400 cash believed to be proceeds from the activity,” the statement said.

JIM said the group was believed to have offered beauty and aesthetic services, mainly to Indonesians in the Klang Valley, through social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.

Customers were required to make appointments before receiving the services, which were carried out at rented residential premises to evade detection by the authorities.

The department said the activity was believed to have been operating since last year and could generate up to RM50,000 in monthly income, depending on the number of customers and services provided.

JIM said two women and a man were detained under Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while three women were detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the same Act. Another woman was detained under Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963.

All seven will also be investigated by the Ministry of Health for alleged offences involving possession of unregistered products under Regulations 7(1) and 30(1) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984. — Bernama