KUALA LUMPUR: In a series of raids under Op Lima, the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested 21 members of organised crime groups from five secret societies.
CID director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said that the suspects, aged between 26 and 51, were apprehended in Johor, Pahang, and Selangor from May 3 onwards.
The individuals, affiliated with Geng 08, Geng 21, Geng 18, Geng 24, and Geng 36, were involved in various criminal activities, including murder, drug trafficking, extortion, and arson.
"All of them from these five different groups have been active in organised crime around Selangor since 2019.
"Currently, we suspect that at least 10 more members from the same five groups have gone into hiding after realising that their associates have been arrested," he said in a press conference today.
Shuhaily said that 18 members of the group were detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) and held for 28 days, while two others were remanded.
"Today, 18 of them were charged under Section 130V of the Penal Code at the Klang Sessions Court, while the remand for two others has been extended.
"One of them will be remanded soon after being confirmed to have a heart condition and sent to the National Heart Institute.
"At the same time, the CID through the Organised Crime Investigation Division (D14) and the Secret Societies, Vice and Gambling Investigation Division (D7), is actively working to trace the remaining members of these secret societies to ensure public safety and order are maintained," he said.
He also said that the modus operandi of the five criminal groups, which he noted had changed from before.
"Currently, they no longer perform oath-taking ceremonies like other secret societies but instead issue task assignments to each member.
"For example, the leader or head of a group will instruct its members to carry out tasks such as extortion, drug distribution, or committing murder," he said.