Five arrested in raid on cockfighting gang, RM3.28mil seized
The operation involved two separate raids with total seizures amounting to RM3.28mil.
Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Azmi Abu Kassim said four foreign nationals and a local man, aged between 31 and 57, were arrested and 622 fighting cocks seized.
Led by the department's Wildlife Crime Bureau/Special Investigation Intelligence, the raid was carried out at 2.30pm under the Integrated Khazanah operation in Kampung Apas Parit and Kampung Membalua.
Officers from the Tawau District Police Headquarters, Tawau's Battalion 14 of the General Operations Force and enforcement personnel from the Veterinary Services Department Tawau branch were also involved.
Azmi said the first raid took place at a house in Kampung Apas Parit, Jalan Apas Parit, and led to the arrest of four men, two Indonesians and two Filipinos, aged between 31 and 52.
'A total of 470 fighting cocks were found at the premises, along with 40 cockfighting blades, 180 containers of vitamins, and 500 specially-designed cages used for the birds,' he said in a statement on Sunday (July 20).
The second raid was at Kampung Membalua off Jalan Apas, resulting in the arrest of a 57-year-old local man, along with the seizure of 152 live fighting cocks, also believed to have been imported illegally.
All five individuals are being investigated under Section 15(1) of the Animal Enactment 2015 for the possession of animals without a licence.
The foreign nationals are also being probed under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for not possessing valid travel documents and working without permits.
They are also being investigated under Section 6 of the Dangerous Weapons Act 1958 for the possession of sharp blades suspected to be used for cockfighting purposes.
'This operation is part of ongoing efforts to combat all forms of illegal cockfighting and gambling activities in the state,' said Azmi.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Overcrowding at Sandakan depot as ops continue against undocumented migrants
SANDAKAN: The Sandakan Immigration depot is housing more than 1,500 undocumented migrants, exceeding its maximum capacity of 1,200, as enforcement operations continue across Sabah. State Immigration director Datuk Sh Sitti Saleha Habib Yussof said the overcrowding has put great pressure on resources and raised safety concerns. 'We're facing serious challenges with congestion. The Sandakan depot alone has exceeded its limit, and there's still a continuous flow of detainees from ongoing operations,' she told a press conference at the depot here on Friday (July 25). Of the detainees currently at the Sandakan depot, 1,273 are Filipinos and 266 are Indonesians. The Sandakan facility is one of four such depots across Sabah, now collectively housing 5,181 detainees – 4,157 Filipinos and 893 Indonesians – out of a total capacity of 7,000. Depot conditions are also deteriorating, with some blocks in Sandakan closed for maintenance. Only six to seven blocks remain operational, many of which have not been upgraded since 2010. To ease the overcrowding, Sitti Saleha said some detainees from Sandakan will be transferred to the Tawau depot, where the number of detainees is expected to drop in the coming week. She urged the Philippine and Indonesian embassies to expedite the issuance of travel documents, adding that delays were hampering repatriation efforts and causing long detention periods. 'For example, the last repatriation of Indonesians was in March. Many of them have now been stuck here for over four months. 'As long as they are not issued travel documents, they will remain in the depot,' she added. She explained that the Philippine Embassy, based in Kuala Lumpur, has no embassy or consulate in Sabah, making coordination slower, while Indonesia maintains consulates in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau. Meanwhile, in a recent large-scale operation involving 54 personnel from Lahad Datu, Ranau, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu, a total of 212 individuals were screened, resulting in 125 arrests for suspected offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Passport Act 1966. The detainees are being held at the Sandakan depot for investigation. Sitti Saleha said the operations have been targeting squatter settlements, based on public complaints. She added that enforcement has also extended to employers, with 80 across the state prosecuted to date for hiring undocumented migrants and failing to comply with procedures.
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘Not to Land': 198 foreigners barred at KLIA over shady travel plans
SEPANG, July 25 — A total of 198 foreign nationals were denied entry at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2 for failing to meet immigration requirements, including insufficient funds, lack of accommodation bookings and unclear travel purposes. Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said those barred entry will be deported under the 'Not to Land' (NTL) procedure, with airlines responsible for returning them to their countries of origin. Of the total, 128 were intercepted at Terminal 1, comprising 123 Bangladeshis, two Pakistanis, two Indonesians, and one Syrian. The remaining 70 at Terminal 2 included 51 Indonesians, 13 Indians, four Pakistanis, and two Vietnamese nationals. Shuhaily also revealed possible syndicate involvement, following the discovery of photos of AKPS officers on the phones of several detainees, believed to be used to help others evade enforcement. 'These images were likely shared by individuals previously deported. It's a sign that syndicates are adapting to enforcement actions,' he said. He warned that operations will continue to ensure Malaysia is not used as a transit hub for illegal entry. — Bernama
The Sun
8 hours ago
- The Sun
198 foreigners denied entry at KLIA for failing immigration checks
SEPANG: A total of 198 foreign nationals were denied entry at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminals 1 and 2 for failing to meet immigration requirements, including insufficient funds, lack of accommodation bookings, and unclear travel purposes. Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) director-general Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said those barred entry will be deported under the 'Not to Land' (NTL) procedure, with airlines responsible for returning them to their countries of origin. Of the total, 128 were intercepted at Terminal 1, comprising 123 Bangladeshis, two Pakistanis, two Indonesians, and one Syrian. The remaining 70 at Terminal 2 included 51 Indonesians, 13 Indians, four Pakistanis, and two Vietnamese nationals. Shuhaily also revealed possible syndicate involvement, following the discovery of photos of AKPS officers on the phones of several detainees, believed to be used to help others evade enforcement. 'These images were likely shared by individuals previously deported. It's a sign that syndicates are adapting to enforcement actions,' he said. He warned that operations will continue to ensure Malaysia is not used as a transit hub for illegal entry. - Bernama
