SPAD enforcement division senior general manager Che Hasni Che Ahmad said enforcement operations last year yielded 58 arrests involving taxi drivers, Uber and Grab drivers and ticket touts.

“Illegal taxi activities at the two airports became rampant in the past few years and the income of taxi drivers registered at KLIA and klia2 were badly affected,” he told the media after Ops Parasit at KLIA last night.

“Fifty eight locals were nabbed under Section 205 (1) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 last year and 58 vehicles were seized for illegally taking passengers at KLIA and klia2,” he said.

In yesterday’s operation from 6am to 8pm, SPAD arrrested three illegal operators at KLIA and klia2. They were remanded and will be taken to Sepang Court for mention today.

Che Hasni said SPAD found that illegal taxi services were getting worse as Uber and Grab drivers had been operating in the two locations since October.

“We found that some ride-sharing drivers would switch off their apps to avoid detection by their operating companies and they would lure passengers and tourists arriving at the airport.”

He said the operation also arrested a driver who had been caught three times by SPAD for the same offence due to the lucrative income from such activities.

“In such cases, we usually appeal to the court to impose a heavier sentence to prevent such offences from repeating,” he said.