KOTA BARU, MALAYSIA: In its biggest crackdown this year, Kelantan police detained 60 Mat Rempit and seized 52 motorcycles in an operation codenamed Ops Lumba Haram along Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra yesterday.

They also issued 48 summonses for various offences in the three-hour operation.

District police chief Assistant Commissioner Zahruddin Abdullah said 45 traffic policemen were involved in the 1am operation.

The motorcycles seized included Yamahas, Hondas EX5s and C70s. Most of them were found to have been modified and had no registration plates.

"The summonses were issued for offences such as driving without licence and road tax," he said yesterday.

"There were also cases where motorcyclists were fined after being caught performing dangerous manoeuvres or racing.

"Such actions could pose a danger to other road users, and can also lead to loss of life."

Zahruddin said the Mat Rempit, aged between 15 and 20 and who included several students, were being held for further investigation.

Some of them were also required to undergo urine tests.

In another case, police arrested a 25-year-old sailor and seized a small package of cough mixture believed to contain the strictly-regulated drug codeine, in an operation at Jalan Hamzah, here, on Monday.

Zahruddin said the man was travelling in a car with a friend when they were stopped at a roadblock.

Though the sailor was apprehended, his friend managed to escape on foot.