Massage Parlour Raided, Syabu Suspect Detained
By Za'im Zaini, Azaraimy HH & Yusrin Junaidi

Bandar Seri Begawan - Ramadhan does not mean that the enforcement authorities are resting on their laurels in keeping the country free of unwanted elements.

On Wednesday night, the Immigration Enforcement personnel were again out on patrol in 'Ops Berkas', the 105' edition of this anticrime operation this year.

Among the interesting cases was the discovery of what was believed to be Syabu-and drug utensils. The authorities also busted what was believed to a "mobile" massage service offered by three Thai women.

In a raid on a first floor of a rented house 'in Kg Tasek Meradun, the Immigration Enforcement personnel found a suspicious package that was thrown out from the window, which was seen by an officer taking part in the raid.

The first floor was occupied by two foreign nationals who were acting suspiciously. The officers checked the package that was thrown away and believed that it contained instruments for consuming the drugs, "Syabu".

Officers from the Narcotics Control Bureau were contacted and they took over the case. They also found other instruments and Syabu. Both foreign nationals were detained and under investigation by the bureau.

Meanwhile, during an inspection of a rented room at a commercial premises in Kg Madewa, enforcement authorities had to force open the door after they found out that the resident was hiding inside.

After entering the room, they found a Thai male national hiding there. Officers also discovered three rooms where there were three Thai female nationals, one of whom attempted to hide from the authorities.

It was suspected that the Thai women were involved in illicit activities. The room was believed to be used as a massage parlour. The Thai women's alleged massage service was believed to have moved from one place to another. The raiding party did not find any customers there but one of the Thai women had two condoms in her handbag.

All of them were issued with a special pass and their passports were impounded for

investigation.

Meanwhile, two Bangladeshi men did not have any immigration documents when they were questioned during an inspection at a rented house in Kg Sungai Tampoi, in Sengkurong.

One of the Bangladeshi men, currently detained at the BSB Police Station, was holding an immigration pass as a labourer which expired on July 20, 2006, according to the immigration database. A check on the other Bangladeshi man found that his immigration pass had expired for 13 days. He was slapped with a compound of $100 which he paid.

Another foreign man who did have any documents was also questioned at the rented house in Kg Sg Tampoi in Sengkurong. His immigration pass has expired for 13 days. He was fined $100.

Eight foreign nationals were apprehended in the operation which started at 10pm Wednesday and ended at 3am yesterday. Seven locations which comprised rented houses and workers quarters in Kg Lumapas, Kg Sengkurong, Kg Bunot and Perpindahan Kg Rimba Gadong were targeted that night.

The operation was led by a senior chief immigration officer from the Law Enforcement Section and involved 25 personnel from that section. In the operation, a total of four special passes were issued. Out of the eight suspects who were apprehended, one was released after the employer brought his passport, while the other seven remained in detention at the BSB Police Station.

The Law Enforcement Section urged anyone with information on suspected immigration offences to call its hotline 238555/ 2387777 or the Kuala Belait office at 3331879. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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