KUCHING: Police have bust 17 gangs in Sarawak after 84 leaders and members were arrested under the anti-gangsterism Ops Cantas Kenyalang since April.
Those arrested included four leaders from Miri, Sarikei, Kuching and Sibu and their right-hand men, Federal CID director Comm Datuk Christopher Wan said.
All have been charged with offences ranging from armed robbery, criminal intimidation and extortion to kidnapping in order to commit murder.
Police also seized several weapons including three pistols, a shotgun, knives and swords.
One of the gangs was the notorious Sibu-based Hua Kee, which has an estimated 50 members.
“Its leader and 13 members have been arrested and eight charged with kidnapping in order to commit murder and gang robbery.
“They are being detained in Sibu prison awaiting trial,” Comm Wan told a press conference during his visit to the state police headquarters yesterday.
He said other gangs included the Sungai Merah and Kong Pia in Sibu, Taxi Station in Miri, Market in Kuching, Ah Seng in Sarikei and Tua Chek in Bintulu.
He said 1,310 people had been arrested for offences linked to gangsterism.
Of the number, 679 had been charged.
The anti-gangsterism operation is being carried out by a task force comprising Federal and state police.
“We will continue to flush out the remnants of the gangs and take further action to hunt down the leaders,” Comm Wan said.
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