KUALA LUMPUR: Twenty-one local men believed to be part of a violent crime syndicate operating across Sarawak have been arrested in a special police operation.
The operation, codenamed Ops Pusak Merah, was carried out on Wednesday (April 15) through a joint effort between Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Serious Crimes Division (D9) and the Sarawak police contingent headquarters.
Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk M. Kumar said coordinated raids were conducted in Kota Samarahan, Kuching, Simunjan and Padawan, targeting suspects linked to a string of violent crimes believed to have been ongoing since 2024.
“All 21 suspects, aged between 19 and 44, were detained at separate locations during the operation,” he said in a statement on Thursday (April 16).
Initial checks found that the suspects have prior criminal records, including offences related to rioting, causing grievous hurt, robbery, mischief and drug-related crimes.
“All suspects have been remanded until April 20,” he added.
Comm Kumar said the operation was aimed at crippling a syndicate believed to be involved in extortion, violent assaults and weapon-related rioting, which had raised concern among residents in the affected areas.
He added that efforts are ongoing to track down several other individuals believed to be linked to the group who remain at large.
“Firm action will continue to be taken against individuals or groups involved in violent crimes, gangsterism and other criminal activities to ensure public safety and order.
“We urge the public to cooperate by providing information on criminal activities to assist authorities in curbing crime,” he said.
