Bukit Aman's Anti-Trafficking In Person and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (ATIPSOM) Unit in an operation on Thursday rescued 20 foreign women believed to be victims of sex exploitation.

Perak Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Gan Tian Kee said the women comprising 19 from Shan, Myanmar and one from Vietnam were rescued during a raid at a beauty centre in Jalan Kampar here around 5.45pm.

"Five men were also detained during the raid - the person guarding the ground floor entrance, the counter worker, and the 'captain' and two customers," he said in a statement here late last night.

He said police also seized cash totaling RM6,670 and other items including 175 condoms, two walkie-talkies, two television sets and four mobile phones.

Also seized were two closed-circuit television recorders, two remote controls to secret doors, two remote controls to the main entrance, a busineess licence and one cash register.

Gan said the case was being investigated under Section 12 and Section 14 of the ATIPSOM Act 2007.

The case also drew the attention of Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar who congratulated the ATIPSOM unit on its success, in his twitter account.

-- BERNAMA