Immigration Operations Crack Down On Pudu Nightclub Near Mosque, 192 Detained In Midnight Raid

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 17 – The Immigration Department of Malaysia arrested 190 foreign nationals and two local men during a targeted late-night raid on an illegal entertainment center operating in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, early Saturday morning, October 17, 2026.

The enforcement sweep followed a stream of public complaints regarding severe noise disturbances and illicit activities stemming from the commercial outlet, which is located just 10 meters from a local mosque.

Immigration Deputy Director-General (Enforcement) Datuk Basri Othman confirmed that the immigration detainees consisted of 99 men and 91 women, aged between 20 and 41.

The foreign nationals rounded up included 188 Indonesian citizens, alongside two individuals from Bangladesh and India.

“Several rooms in the premises were used for entertainment, with between 50 and 60 people in each room at the time of the raid. Immigration offences detected included overstaying and not possessing valid travel documents,” Datuk Basri told press members following the conclusion of the operation.

Suspected Illicit Substances, Immoral Activities, and Depot Remand

Enforcement officers and field observers uncovered evidence of wider criminal infractions inside the venue:

• Local Arrests: Two Malaysian men were detained on-site, identified by enforcement officers as the employer and premises caretaker responsible for managing the establishment.
• Overcrowded Private Rooms: Raiding teams found dense crowds inside private entertainment suites, each accommodating between 50 and 60 patrons per room during peak hours.
• Suspected Narcotics and Contraband: On-site observations during the raid revealed plates containing suspicious white powder—suspected to be illegal narcotics—alongside scattered condoms across multiple private rooms.
• Scope of Legal Investigation: Datuk Basri confirmed that multi-agency investigations will examine potential prostitution and drug distribution networks operating out of the venue.
• Depot Transfer and Offence Charges: All 192 detainees were transferred to an immigration detention depot for formal processing under Section 6(1)(c) (entry without valid permit) and Section 15(1)(c) (overstaying) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

The Immigration Department reaffirmed that it will intensify enforcement raids on unlicensed entertainment venues operating near residential and religious zones.

–NMT