Malaysian immigration authorities have busted a sprawling foreign prostitution racket run out of budget hotels and lodging houses in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, detaining 57 people, including 17 Bangladeshi nationals, in a raid described as part of a syndicate that had been operating for nearly a year and generating an estimated RM540,000 (over $114,000) annually.

The Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) said the operation was carried out on August 23 across three locations in Seremban, beginning around 2:00 pm, involving a multi-rank team from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division at its Putrajaya headquarters, working in cooperation with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuala Lumpur.

The raid followed a tip-off from the Indonesian embassy about Indonesian nationals allegedly involved in immoral activities, according to a media statement issued by the department Monday.

Officers detained seven local men, three Indonesian men, 12 Bangladeshi men and three Myanmar nationals, along with 26 Indonesian women, five Bangladeshi women and one Indian woman, taking the total number held to 57, with ages ranging from 19 to 65.

A search of the premises led to the seizure of several Bangladeshi, Indian and Indonesian passports, mobile phones, premise keys and condoms, the statement said.

Investigators found that foreign women were housed in lodging houses or budget hotels rented out daily or for periods ranging from a week to a month, with the premises allegedly managed and controlled by local and foreign nationals acting as “captains” or premise managers.

The women were believed to be offering sexual services for RM50 (about $10.60) per transaction to both foreign and local clients.

The racket is believed to have been running for about a year under an organised management structure and was estimated to be generating around RM540,000 in annual profit, according to JIM.

The seven Malaysian nationals face charges under Section 56(1)(d) of the Immigration Act 1959/63, while the foreign nationals are being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(1)(c) of the same Act, as well as Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963. All 57 have been taken to immigration offices for further investigation.

JIM said it would continue to take firm action against any activity that violates the country’s laws to safeguard Malaysia’s stability and prosperity.

The statement was issued by Immigration Director-General Zakaria bin Shaaban.