A total of 124 people, comprising 46 Malaysians and 78 foreigners, were arrested during the operation, Berita Harian reported.

Bukit Aman criminal investigation department (CID) deputy director (intelligence/operations) Fadil Marsus said the team conducted aerial surveillance with drones before launching a surprise raid on the gambling site located deep within the forest.

He said the team had been gathering intelligence since the illegal gambling activities, including cockfighting, “bola golek” (a gambling board game) and unlicensed public lotteries, started last October.

To enter the forest, the raiding team, which included anti-vice, gambling and secret societies division (D7) officers, the CID’s K9 unit, and the Putrajaya veterinary department, used an unmarked dirt road guided by drone surveillance information.

The team also confiscated 52 live chickens, seven dead chickens, 17 steel cockfighting spurs, a weighing scale used in cockfighting, gambling equipment for “bola golek” and RM145,855 in cash.

Fadil said six Indonesians suspected of organising the cockfights, and a Malaysian suspected of organising the illegal lottery, were among those detained.

He said police have opened investigation papers under the Open Gambling Houses Act 1953, the Animal Welfare Act 2015, and the Immigration Act 1959/63.