The bodies of five men were found floating separately in Sungai Muda in Kampung Padang Bukit Taman Permai, Kuala Ketil, between 11.35am and 12.45pm today.

Baling district police chief Shariffuddin Yusof said four of the victims were locals aged between 40 and 50 years old, while the identity of another was unknown.

He said the men were believed to be illegal gamblers who escaped during a police raid at an area near the river at Kampung Tanah Licin Merbau Pulas on Feb 16 about 8pm.

"When the team wanted to apprehend the gamblers, they suddenly fled. The team managed to nab about 30 people under the main gambling camp.

"After bringing the situation under control, the team was mobilised to conduct a search around the area and successfully nabbed 46 more people, including three who were injured,” he said in a statement today.

Shariffuddin said the raid was conducted in an oil palm plantation and about three kilometres from the main road.

He added that the men were believed to have plunged into the river near the location of the raid while trying to escape from the police.

According to Shariffuddin, police managed to arrest 76 individuals and seized more than RM140,000 in cash in the raid conducted by seven officers and 20 police personnel from the criminal investigation division of the Kedah police contingent headquarters and the Baling district police headquarters.

He said the bodies were sent to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar, and efforts to find other bodies have also been conducted with the cooperation of the Fire and Rescue Department.

- Bernama