Penang - Anti-vice police launched a raid on a gay sauna on Saturday evening, following a surveillance operation.

Police detained 14 men. George Town OCPD Asst Comm Azam Abd Hamid said six men, all naked, were caught in three toilets. The other men were detained for being on the premises.

He said the detainees, aged between 20 and 30, had been remanded to assist in investigations into immoral activities at the centre.

He said police raided the premises after keeping it under surveillance for a while.

“This was the third time the centre was raided since last November.”

Officers also claimed to have found 1800 condoms.

On Nov 5 last year, police raided the centre and discovered it was used to host a sex party. They rounded up 34 men, aged between 22 and 55. Among those arrested was a Briton.

ACP Azam said the raid was part of an on-going operation codenamed Operation Rose aimed at curbing immoral activities and “cleaning” up places like Leith Street, Penang Road and the Esplanade frequented by transvestites.

In a country where homophobia is common, raids such as this are not unusual.