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Monday July 10, 2006

Copter used to nab racers

JOHOR BARU: From using the standard barriers and police cars to block illegal racers from escaping, police here used helicopters, trailers, trucks and buses during an operation.

The heavy vehicles were placed at all exit points to prevent the racers and even spectators from driving away after the police moved in.

NO WAY OUT: A group of illegal racers and spectators waiting for police to process them during an operation against illegal racers in Johor Baru yesterday, which involved a helicopter (background)
The police helicopter, with a powerful beam light, was used to detect racers who had run to nearby bushes or even used short cuts to escape.

By the end of the five-hour operation from midnight, 550 cars and motorcycles, including those from Singapore, were impounded.

Some of the vehicles belonged to the spectators.

Johor Baru North internal security and public order chief C/Insp Bakri Zainal said trailers, lorries and factory buses were also used in the operation.

“If we set up roadblocks, the riders just ram into them,” he said.

C/Insp Bakri said all the vehicles and their owners were brought to the district police headquarters and Kulai police station.

He said the spectators were released after receiving stern warnings.

Some 140 policemen in 20 patrol vehicles were involved in the operation.

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