KOTA KINABALU: Sixteen illegal taxis operators (kereta sapu) were detained by the police for operating illegal transport services.
Police also confiscated 16 private vehicles that were used in the illegal public transport services.
City police chief ACP M. Chandra said yesterday’s operations at Inanam town, was carried out following complaints by the public of the illegal taxis operating in the area.
“A week of surveillance was carried out to identify which private vehicles were involved in this illegal activity. After identifying 16 vehicles, police immediately launched an operation to confiscate the vehicles and detain the owners/operators,” he said.
Chandra added that the illegal taxis operators were not licensed and do not have any permit to operate as a public transport. They are now detained to be investigated under Section 51 and Section 33 of the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987.
“Police will continue to carry out such operation from time to time and will monitor other hot-spot areas. We therefore urge the public to continue to provide information to the police to help combat this illegal activity,” he said.
In March this year, police also cracked down on illegal taxi operators in the state capital and confiscated up to 25 private vehicles operating at the central market and also along the Segama area at Jalan Tun Fuad Stephens here.
Among the vehicles that were confiscated were 12 vans, seven MPVs and six cars worth a total of RM2.2 million.