KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has arrested 37 enforcement officers for allegedly colluding with a syndicate to smuggle foreign nationals through airports.
The syndicate, the graft busters say, uses a 'special counter route' modus operandi.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the suspects, aged 20 to 40, were arrested during Op Pump 2.0 in Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Pahang, and Johor.
They include 27 men and 10 women and are being investigated under Section 17(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
MACC seized over RM1 million in cash, including more than RM500,000 from a suspect in Pahang, RM200,000 from a suspect in Selangor, RM170,000 from a Johor suspect, and RM100,000 from a suspect in Negri Sembilan.
The money is believed to be bribes from the smuggling syndicate at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminals 1 and 2 (KLIA1 and KLIA2).
Jewellery, including gold bars, dinar coins, branded watches, cars, motorcycles, and mobile phones, were also confiscated.