KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 – Forty-five Myanmar nationals, including a woman, and an Indonesian woman were detained for various offences in a joint operation in Ampang today.

The offences included riding a motorcycle without a licence and overloading. Those detained are aged between 20 and 50.

The “Ops Sepadu” was carried out jointly by the Road Transport Department, Immigration Department and Ampang Jaya Municipal Council in Tasik Permai, Taman Melawati and Ampang Jaya from 7am to 2pm.

Ampang Jaya district police chief ACP Abdul Jalil Hassan said the group had hired tricycles belonging to local residents and went around collecting used items for the past one month, with the public complaining about the way some of them rode the vehicles.

He said five of the Myanmars were tested positive for heroin while some were found to be carrying fake UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) cards.

Abdul Jalil said their modus operandi was to hire the tricycles at RM30 per day and go around the area to collect unwanted used items in the morning before selling them and returning the vehicles to the owners.

He said police were working with RTD to find the owners as they were liable to be charged for allowing people without a valid licence to ride their vehicles. – Bernama