BINTULU: A total of 38 illegal immigrants were arrested during a raid across town during the weekend.

Bintulu police chief Supt Zailanni Amit said apart from his men, the integrated operation also involved enforcement personnel from Bintulu Development Authority (BDA), the Immigration Department and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC).

“Among the areas covered during the operation, from 7.30pm (Saturday) to 3am (yesterday), were the old downtown, budget hotels and a premises suspected to be running illegal gambling.

“Throughout the raid, 36 men and two women were arrested under Section 6(1) (c) of the Immigration Act 1963/59,” he said, adding that the probe on the suspected gambling premises was under Section 4b (A) of the Open Gaming House Act 1953 and Section 5 (3) of Entertainment Ordinance 2000.

He said among the items confiscated from the premises were RM3,007, as well as two machines and 13 computer tablets believed to be used in illegal gambling.

Meanwhile, police arrested three individuals at different locations here yesterday – all suspected of possessing illegal drugs.

The first suspect, a 25-year-old Indonesian man was apprehended near a carwash at Kidurong Industrial Park, where police found two transparent plastic packets on him.

Each packet had eight straws – each containing crystalline substance believed to be syabu.

The case is investigated under Section 39A(1) of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and also Section 6(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Another Indonesian aged 37, was arrested in front of a supermarket at Kidurong Industrial Park, where police also found on him a transparent plastic packet containing five straws containing substance believed to be syabu weighing 3.3g.

This case is investigated under Section 12(2) of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Another case involved a local man, who is now being detained after he tested positive for drugs. This case falls under Section 15(1)(a) of Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.