GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA - Police broke up four gay parties and nabbed 70 people, some of whom were literally caught with their pants down. Those detained included locals, Americans, Europeans and a Chinese national.

Police, in a blitz to weed out vice activities here and in Seberang Jaya on Saturday, stumbled upon the parties specially organised for the men.

In the three-hour raids that started at 5.30pm, police stormed into a traditional massage parlour and a fitness centre in Midlands Park and two other fitness centres in Seberang Jaya.

The raiding party seized used condoms, pornography DVDs, gay magazines, lubrication jelly and boxes of condoms found in the four premises.

Police said the organisers had used legitimate businesses as their front to conduct the illicit activities to hoodwink the authorities.

George Town Deputy OCPD Supt Gan Kong Meng said they arrested 29 men, including a Chinese national, at the massage parlour and fitness centre here during the 8.30pm raid.

Many of them were found naked when police walked into the joints, he said.

The men, aged between 20 and 40, were arrested and questioned at the state police headquarters in Penang Road and were later released on bail, he added.

"Those caught will be charged with gross indecency," said Supt Gan, adding that police had raided the massage parlour and fitness centre five times in the past.

In Seberang Jaya, the police conducted the raid following public tip-offs and caught 41 suspects, including the Westerners.

The suspects were taken to the Seberang Jaya district police headquarters and had their statements recorded before being released on police bail.

Police are also looking for the owners of the two premises to prosecute them for allowing their premises to be used as vice dens.