Gamblers in Sarawak flee police but end up in river full of crocodiles -- and getting rescued by the police

Police had to rescue seven gamblers who tried to escape a police raid but ended up in a river with crocodiles in Bako town in southern Sarawak, an hour's drive from Kuching, Malaysia yesterday (Jan 25).

The suspects were gambling behind a shop when authorities swooped down on them.

Sarawak CID Cheif Senior Asst Comm Datuk Dev Kumar said, "They made a desperate bid to escape, with some of them jumping into the fast-flowing Bako River behind the shop.

"The river is infested with crocodiles - they were lucky they survived. 

"We fished them out of the water using a sampan (boat).

"We will charge them with illegal gambling."

According to The Star and Asia News Network via The Straits Times, the raid was a part of Sarawak police's ongoing statewide crackdown on gambling.

SAC Dev confirmed that it has led to 43 raids and 112 arrests so far.

He added, "About 105 gambling machines and RM44,460 (S$14,230) have been seized."