The police detained 17 women of Indian nationality at a budget hotel on suspicion of prostitution, a report said today.

Ten men, including seven Indian nationals, were also detained during a three-hour anti-vice swoop late Sunday, Kuala Lumpur deputy crime investigation department chief Syed Ismail Syed Azizan was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

The women, aged between 25 and 38, and the seven men - all Indian nationals - were detained for violating their social visit passes while the three locals were detained for abetting them, he said. Prostitution is illegal in Malaysia.

The government recently launched a nationwide crackdown on prostitution and gambling after an intensive nationwide drive against pirated and pornographic VCDs was hailed as a success.

The local prostitution industry mainly employs foreign women, who are usually from China and are tricked into joining the trade by unscrupulous agents luring them with promises of lucrative jobs. - AFP