SEPANG: The Selangor Road Transport Department (RTD) has arrested 31 illegal taxi touts at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and klia2 from January to May 21 this year.
Selangor RTD director Nazli Md Taib said the number of arrest this year increased by about 60 per cent compared to only 19 arrests made last year.
"Up to May, we are seeing more of these touts with 23 arrests made at klia2 and eight at KLIA," he told reporters at KLIA today.
He said the department seized the touts' vehicles namely eight taxis, 16 private vehicles, two company vehicles, two tour buses and three Uber/Grab cars.
The latest arrests were made last Saturday which saw six touts nabbed during an operation codenamed `Ops Ulat' with the involvement of 22 RTD personnel.
"We caught several foreigners too during our operations at KLIA and klia2.
"Last year, we arrested one Bangladeshi and this year we have caught one Bangladeshi and one Pakistani involved in the illegal taxi activities," he said.
The touts may face hefty fines of up to RM50,000 or imprisonment not more than five years or both under Section 205 of the Land Transport Act.
Nazli said these touts usually operate on their own without any link to a syndicate. Their monthly earnings could be as low as RM6,000 or as high as RM12,000.