KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested 71 suspected scam syndicate members in 59 raids across eight states.
The raids, conducted over three days, targeted locations identified through cash withdrawals made using ATM cards belonging to mule account holders.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa said the withdrawals were linked to cases reported to the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC).
"The highest number of raids was conducted in Kuala Lumpur (24), followed by Penang (11), Sabah (eight), Perak (five), Pahang (four), Selangor (three), Negri Sembilan and Sarawak (two each).
"We detained 55 local men, eight local women, and eight foreign men aged between 19 and 50," he told reporters on Friday (Aug 8).
Items seized included 925 ATM cards, almost RM400,000 in cash, 100 mobile phones, 32 SIM cards, 16 bags and 55 documents, he added.
"The suspects are from various syndicates involved in scams and ah long activities.
"They have been operating for some time.
"We opened 42 investigation papers for various offences including cheating, using other people's ATM cards, and operating a loan business without a valid licence," he added.
The operation was a success thanks to collaboration with Bank Negara Malaysia, he said.
