Crack down on illegal taxi operators in Belait

By Liza Mohd

Kuala Belait - A flood of illegal taxi operators involving foreigners has prompted the Belait Immigration Enforcement Section to be on alert along the Sungai Tujoh border.

During a three-day operation, which began last Friday, Immigration Enforcement officials detained eight Indonesians suspected of running an unlicensed private transportation service while in the country under a social visitor's pass.

If found guilty, they could each be slapped with a compound fine of $600.

Twenty-one Brunei registered vehicles carrying mainly passengers from Indonesia were searched during the operation.

Ten Indonesian passengers were questioned and issued with special passes.

Another Indonesian was nabbed after officers found that his immigration pass had expired. Investigations are currently underway.

"Illegal taxi operators take advantage of the fact that there are no direct buses that are operational to Pontianak, Indonesia, and taxi operators have a network to operate the business undetected," an officer said.

The officer added that the departments will him conducting similar operations in the near future.

Most of the illegal taxi operators when queried said they conducted transportation services mainly for foreigners who are working in Brunei and for those returning to Pontianak.

The operation codenamed 'Operasi Pintas 10, 11 & 13/2008' was carried out at the entry and exit points of Sungai Tujoh Control Post.

Investigations revealed that illegal taxi operators would normally charge passengers between $80 and $100.

According to the department, it was the first time that such an operation has been carried out this year.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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