MIRI, MALAYSIA: Police aim to hit gangsters where it hurts most - their ill-gotten business empires and money chests.

Sarawak police chief Comm Datuk Mohmad Salleh said that 75 bosses had been identified and classified as "threats to society" in the state with 64 of them being detained under the Emergency Ordinance.

Police are hunting down six others and awaiting approval from the higher authorities to act against five others.

The state's top police officers yesterday decided that the Forfeiture of Properties Act would be used to force gangster bosses to part with their illegally acquired wealth.

"This Act has been effective against gangsters involved in the drug trade," said Comm Mohmad.

He said police had to rely on information to catch the gangsters. "Every three months, we will review what we have achieved and determine what more needs to be done."

Police have started using the army, field force personnel, traffic police and even the tourist police to take part in anti-crime operations here, he added.