style="text-transform: uppercase;">Sandakan: Police believe they have solved 31 cases of robbery, burglary and housebreaking in the district this month following the arrest of 19 men, including five with previous criminal records.District Police Chief ACP Mohd Azhar Hamin said the suspects, 13 of them foreigners, were aged between 19 and 50.

He said 18 of them also tested positive for drugs. "Police also seized 120 stolen items worth RM242,000. The items include televisions, cars, sewing machines, drill sets, laptops, mobile phones and tools for housebreaking," he said during a press conference here on Monday.

Meanwhile, an operation against illegal gambling activities was carried out from Nov 12 to 18 at separate locations at Bandar Nam Tung and Kg Sg Kayu, here.

"During the two raids, five men were arrested. Police also seized five mobile phones and cash.

All the suspects are believed to be involved in illegal gambling are being investigated under Section 4(1)(c) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953.

Azhar said this year police had so far conducted 81 raids and arrested 71 individuals in connection with illegal gambling activities.

Meanwhile, in TAWAU, four people, including a teenager, were arrested on suspicion of being involved in an illegal 4D gambling syndicate following a series of raids around the district.

District Police Chief ACP Fadil Marsus said gambling money amounting to RM2,062 was also seized in the operations on Sunday.

He said the first raid was carried out around 3.30pm at a shoplot along Jalan Chester and Jalan Cole Adam, where police arrested a 42-year-old woman and seized two mobile phones, SIM cards, RM717 in cash as well as three 4D tickets.

The second raid was conducted about 3.45pm at a restaurant along Jalan Dunlop and a 19-year-old girl was arrested. The team confiscated a portable Bluetooth printer, mobile phone, a SIM card, RM586 in cash and one 4D ticket.

The third raid was carried out at a shop along Jalan Chester and Jalan Cole Adam about 4pm, and a 35-year-old woman, whose only identification document was a passport, was arrested. Police seized a portable Bluetooth printer, a mobile phone, a SIM card, RM413 in cash and a 4D ticket.

The last raid was done at the same location 10 minutes later. A 24-year-old woman was arrested with confiscated items comprising a portable Bluetooth printer, a mobile phone, a SIM card, RM346 in cash and one 4D ticket.

The suspects have been remanded until Nov 22 to facilitate investigations under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953. - Mardinah Jikur