Twelve men and 29 women were arrested in a raid conducted by the Immigration Department on a Skudai hotel here last night.

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Mustafar Ali said of the 41 individuals detained, 28 were foreigners and 13 were locals adding that the raid was conducted after receiving intelligence that the location was a hotbed of immoral activities.

Mustafar added that the modus operandi of the outlet was to promote sex services through WeChat and clients could make their bookings through the application.

In another development 38 Indonesian illegal immigrants were held in the waters off Kuala Sungai Batu Pahat, while trying to exit the country early this morning.

Region Two Marine Operations Force (PPM) commander ACP Paul Khiu Khon Chiang said the illegal immigrants, aged between 20 and 45 years were detained in 'Ops Gelora' at about 5.30am

"On checking the vessel, we found the 29 men, six women, the skipper and two crew hiding in the storage room," he said in a statement here today.

-- BERNAMA