The Immigration Department uncovered a syndicate offering same-sex service involving foreigners with the arrest of five Indonesian men during a raid at a hotel in Penang last night.

Penang Immigration Department enforcement head Kholijah Mohamad said the raid was conducted under an operation code-named “Op Tegar” following two weeks of surveillance and intelligence work.

She said the five men, aged between 20 and 30, were believed to have entered the country only for the purpose.

“They entered the country legally and will stay for a week or two depending on the bookings made by their clients, then go back to Indonesia and come again when they get new bookings, which are made through a special application or website,” Kholijah told reporters after the operation.

She said they charged between RM150 and RM250 per hour for their service.

The five have been detained for violating their social visit pass, she said, adding that during the raid, the enforcement team also seized their passports, RM3,500, condoms and gel.

- Bernama