KUALA LUMPUR: Police have crippled four Ah Long (illegal money lenders) syndicates with the arrests of 29 individuals in the Klang Valley.
With the arrests made between July 30 and yesterday (Thursday), police believe they have solved at least nine cases.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, via a Twitter post, congratulated the Federal Police Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) on the success.
“Congratulations CCID Bukit Aman @PDRMsia nabbed 29 people, crippled four Ah Long syndicates in the Klang Valley. Solved at least nine cases. #GoPDRMGo,” he wrote.
The five-day operation was launched following reports lodged against the syndicates after they were believed to have acted aggressively towards debtors.
It is learnt that the syndicates had harassed the debtors including by splashing their houses with paint and threatening family members.
After several months of monitoring, a team of CCID personnel raided several locations in the Klang Valley and other states.
Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said in the operation, 27 men and two women were arrested.
"Various ATM cards, vehicles, cash, mobile phones and computers were seized.
"Those detained have been remanded. Actions will be taken under Section 5(2) and Section 29AA of the Moneylenders Act 1951 and under the Prevention of Crime Act," Acryl said in a statement.
The arrests were believed to have solved nine cases including those reported at Sungai Buloh, Desa Jaya, Saujana Utama, Kampung Baru Subang and Sungai Besi.
A press conference on the department's success is expected to be held on Monday.