76 DETAINED AT NIGHTSPOTS

KUALA LUMPUR: Seventy-six people were detained by the authorities at several nightspots in the city centre early yesterday in the continuing nationwide clampdown on the synthetic drug Ecstasy and amphetamine-type stimulants.

Among those held were several underage girls.  One teenager was seen throwing what was believed to be psychotropic pills.

Two pub owners were also summoned for operating without licences.

Eight barrels of beer and 31 bottles of liquor were confiscated.

Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Koh Hong Sun said the two pubs were sealed off pending further action.

"We detained 14 people, most of whom were foreigners," he said, adding that two underage girls were handed over to the Welfare Department for further action.

ACP Koh said the raids were the third conducted over the past week, aimed at reducing undesirable and unhealthy activities in such places.

"We have closed down eight illegal nightspots and five of the owners have been charged in court," he said.

He added that the authorities would now concentrate on premises which operated beyond the approved hours.

Gombak OCPD Asst Comm Massari Hashim said four illegal pubs in Rawang and Taman Desa Jaya were raided by authorities during a two-hour operation yesterday.

He said 62 people, including 13 women, aged between 18 and 30, were detained during the 2am operation.

In another operation against illegal immigrants at the Selayang wholesale market, 88 foreigners were detained.

The agencies involved in the joint operation were the police, Immigration Department, National Registration Department and police volunteer reserve personnel.

Sentul Deputy OCPD Supt Osman Abu Bakar said the 1am raid was conducted after a tip-off from the public.

He said of those detained, 34 were Myanmars, 37 Indonesians, 13 Indians and four Bangladeshis.

The foreigners did not have any valid travel documents.