Kuala Lumpur  - Malaysian police have detained six Vietnamese women believed to have been working as prostitutes since entering the country on tourist visas, reports said Friday.

Police from Penang state raided a hotel on Wednesday, resulting in the detention of the women, who were all in their 20s, the New Straits Times daily reported.

Two Malaysian men who were with the women during the raid were also detained.

Police are investigating whether the men were the women's pimps and members of a vice ring, the report added.

Prostitution is illegal in Malaysia. The punishment for those found guilty of soliciting is a fine of up to 2,000 ringgit (540 dollars) and a one-year jail term. Foreigners are deported. (dpa)