KUBANG PASU: Police have dismantled 'Geng Pak Lon,' a gang of three led by a 20-year-old suspected of robbing foreign workers while posing as policemen.
Kedah police chief Datuk Fisol Salleh said the three men, aged 20 to 30, were nabbed on Thursday in Kulim following intelligence operations.
He said the gang committed five robberies in the district since July, targeting foreign nationals by impersonating policemen.
"The group's modus operandi involves targeting foreign nationals. They wait until a certain time, knowing when the foreign workers are at shared housing or on a break, then approach them, claiming to be police officers and using knives as weapons," he said during a press conference at the Kubang Pasu district police headquarters today.
Fisol said the group did not wear full police uniforms but merely introduced themselves as policemen.
"As a result, police have closed five cases involving robberies where suspects posed as policemen in Kulim. However, police are still investigating to determine if this gang was involved in other areas," he said.
All three suspects, remanded for four days since Friday, tested positive for methamphetamine and have criminal records.
In a separate case, Fisol said police also dismantled a motorcycle theft gang known as 'Geng Mat E' following the arrest of four men.
"On Oct 14, police raided a location in Sitiawan, Perak, apprehending a man believed to be part of the gang. Further arrests were made in Jitra and Kangar, Perlis.
"This gang operates in the early morning, targeting motorcycles in unfenced or remote village homes and unlocked motorcycles. They are believed to kick the motorcycle handles and tow them to hiding locations," he added.
He said police seized seven stolen motorcycles and three frames from the suspects, who all have criminal and drug records.
"With these arrests, 20 motorcycle theft cases in Kubang Pasu have been resolved," he added.
He said police are still searching for three other gang members.