Latest news with #syndicate
Free Malaysia Today
13 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Cops bust drug ring using rented cars, hotels to avoid detection
Sepang police chief Norhizam Bahaman said the suspects earned about RM1,600 for each drug delivery. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Police have busted a drug trafficking syndicate that used rented cars and hotel rooms for the past nine years to avoid being detected by the cops. Sepang police chief Norhizam Bahaman said a married couple and two men, aged between 27 and 39, were arrested in an operation at 6pm on Wednesday. In addition to seizing various types of drugs, the cops also confiscated two rented cars that they believe the syndicate used for drug trafficking, Bernama reported. 'All four suspects are believed to have been active in drug trafficking activities since 2016, and they are believed to have used rented cars to distribute the drugs. 'They are also believed to have rented hotels as accommodation to avoid being detected by the authorities,' he said, adding that the suspects earned about RM1,600 for each drug delivery. Two of the suspects have criminal records, including for narcotics-related cases, while all three men tested positive for drugs. The woman tested negative.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Immigration busts fake document syndicates in Klang Valley
The raids were conducted at Jalan Ipoh and Maluri in Kuala Lumpur, and Petaling Jaya, Selangor, following complaints and two weeks of intelligence gathering. (Immigration Department Facebook pic) KUALA LUMPUR : The immigration department has smashed two syndicates involved in forging immigration stickers and temporary employment visit passes (PLKS), arresting four individuals in raids at several locations across the Klang Valley on Monday. Immigration director-general Zakaria Shaaban said the four suspects, aged between 40 and 43, were detained in a special operation at Jalan Ipoh and Maluri in Kuala Lumpur, and Petaling Jaya, Selangor, following complaints and two weeks of intelligence gathering. 'In the raids, conducted at 6.42pm, the immigration department arrested three locals: two women believed to be the masterminds of the syndicate, and one man. Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the women and the man are civil servants,' he said in a statement today. He added that the raids led to the seizure of 101 passports from various countries: 74 from Sri Lanka, 13 from Myanmar, six from Vietnam, two from Indonesia, two from Ghana, and one each from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Syria. Also seized were two mobile phones, a copy of a Companies Commission of Malaysia registration document, and a Toyota Vellfire used by the syndicate. 'Preliminary investigations indicate that the syndicate had been operating since the end of last year, charging up to RM11,000 per foreign national for a fake PLKS. 'The syndicate altered the details on the ePLKS. All those arrested have been brought to the immigration department headquarters in Putrajaya for further action. The case is being investigated under Section 12(1)(f) of the Passport Act 1966,' he said. In another raid at 11am on the same day at two locations around Jalan Ipoh, the immigration department arrested a Pakistani national suspected of leading a syndicate printing fake immigration stickers. Also questioned at the premises were one local man and two local women who were conducting business there. 'Preliminary checks revealed that the Pakistani national did not possess any valid travel documents or permit to be in the country. Investigations found that the syndicate was altering and printing fake immigration stickers for sale to undocumented migrants in the country. 'They were selling the stickers for between RM100 and RM120 each, depending on the country of issue. The Pakistani suspect has been detained under the Immigration Act 1959/63, Passport Act 1966, and Immigration Regulations 1963, and is currently being held at the immigration depot in Putrajaya. 'As for the locals, they have been issued notices to report to the office to assist in the investigation,' he said. The items seized during the raid included 12 fake visa stickers for Bangladesh, India, the US, Indonesia and Pakistan, as well as a biometric passport data page sticker for Bangladesh, a desktop computer, a laptop and a printer.
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Malay Mail
‘Kingpins caught': Sarawak's biggest drug ring smashed, RM8.5m haul recovered
SIBU, June 16 — Police have successfully busted the largest drug trafficking syndicate in Sarawak's history with the arrest of a married couple on June 12 and 13, said Sarawak Police Commissioner Dato Mancha Ata. He said the suspects were arrested in raids at three separate locations, namely beside a shop in Jalan Pedada and two terrace houses in Lorong Permai Jaya here. 'The couple are suspected of being involved in drug trafficking activities. 'The arrests led to the seizure of a large amount of drugs worth RM532,934 involving 7,000g of syabu and some Eramin 5 pills. This amount of drugs can be used by about 49,702 drug addicts,' he said during a press conference at Wisma Pengaman in Sibu District Police Headquarters here today. Mancha said that police also seized various assets believed to be proceeds from the syndicate's illegal activities, estimated to be worth RM7.9 million. 'The assets included cash totaling RM5.1 million, four gold bars, two gold necklaces, three Rolex watches, two luxury cars and a saloon car with the total seizure worth of RM8.5 million which is the largest amount ever recorded in Sarawak. 'Among other items that were also seized for investigation purposes include identity cards, house keys, and drug packaging equipment,' he added. Mancha said initial investigations revealed the couple was the masterminds of a drug trafficking syndicate operating in the Sibu area, believed to have been active since 2015. He added that the drugs were obtained from Peninsular Malaysia and sent via courier services for distribution in the local market in Sibu. 'Urine test results showed both suspects tested negative for drugs and had no prior criminal records. 'The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for a death sentence or life imprisonment and not less than 12 strokes of whipping if not sentenced to death. 'Both suspects have been remanded for seven days from June 13 to 20 to assist in further investigations,' he said. Mancha said police are now actively pursuing other members of the syndicate to ensure it is fully crippled. 'The Royal Malaysia Police, especially the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), remain committed and determined to combat drug trafficking activities which are the country's main enemy,' he said. The public is urged to channel any information related to drug abuse or trafficking by contacting the NCID hotline at 012-2087222. Also present were Sarawak NCID chief ACP Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah and Sibu police chief ACP Zulkipli Suhaili. — The Borneo Post
Malay Mail
27-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Five cops on cable theft syndicate's payroll among 16 arrested, say Selangor police
SEPANG, May 27 — Five police officers allegedly on the payroll of a cable theft syndicate were among 16 individuals arrested after Selangor police crippled the syndicate's year-long operation near Kampung Desa Putra here. Selangor police chief Commissioner Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the officers were allegedly paid between RM1,000 and RM2,000 each in exchange for confidential information on police crime prevention activities in the area where the syndicate operated. 'The stolen cables were burned to extract the metal, which was then sold to a scrap metal yard in Semenyih. The syndicate reaped hefty profits of around RM683,000. 'The spoils were distributed among the members, including the police officers, according to their roles,' he said during a press conference at the Sepang police headquarters today. The arrests followed a series of raids conducted between May 19 and 23. On May 19, police patrols discovered three suspicious vehicles transporting cables near an oil palm plantation. Two suspects were found outside the vehicles, while six others were caught burning cables to extract the metal. Further arrests were made on May 20, 22, and 23. Items seized included machinery and equipment used to extract the cable, as well as vehicles used to transport the stolen items. The detained police officers comprised three corporals and two sergeants. Hussein revealed that among those arrested were two outsourced contractors hired by a major utility company. They allegedly taught syndicate members how to evade system detection and extract cables without triggering alarms. Hussein urged the public to report any suspicious activities involving cable theft and to avoid engaging in transactions involving stolen cables. 'Cable theft is not only a crime but also threatens public safety, the economy, and societal harmony,' he said.
News24
23-05-2025
- News24
Bank executive and two others rescued from suspected kidnapping syndicate in Gauteng
Police believe they've 'dismantled' a suspected kidnapping syndicate after officers rescued a bank executive and one other person who were tied up at a house in Tembisa, Gauteng, on Thursday. They tracked down a third person after the kidnappers released him. It is alleged that the syndicate hijacked people, kidnapped them and withdrew large sums of money from their bank accounts. According to national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the police's Anti-Kidnapping Task Team arrested four of the suspected syndicate members. Mathe said: 'The first suspect was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport while boarding a flight to Durban.' The others were arrested in Tembisa 'and found in possession of two stolen vehicles' allegedly used to hijack and kidnap the victims, she added. 'The bank executive's Mercedes-Benz was recovered in Ivory Park,' she said.
