KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 133 people, including 120 locals, have been arrested in 'Ops Khas Aman Phase 1 2024' by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department in South and North Klang, near here, which concluded today.
The operation, conducted by Bukit Aman Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) of the Criminal Investigation Department, in collaboration with the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK), began on Jan 15. It targeted individuals actively involved in two secret societies in the Klang area, as well as their construction project sites and drug dens.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department deputy director (of investigation/operations), Deputy Commissioner Fadil Marsus, said that the operation also crippled the financial flows derived from illicit businesses of the two main secret societies that had long been rampant in the area.
"The arrests of these secret society members were made based on existing membership records and identifications by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department, based on the arrest records of other individuals in previous operations.
"Through our records, we then conducted investigations to determine whether they were still active in criminal activities or drug trafficking before being arrested in Ops Khas Aman Phase 1," he told Berita Harian today.
Fadil said that the Criminal Investigation Department, through D7, also conducted raids on 16 construction project sites believed to have been the financial operational hub for the two main secret societies in Klang.
He said that they also raided three main drug dens involving two in South Klang and one in North Klang, namely in Taman Sentosa, Klang, Kampung Sammy Bridge, Port Klang, and Jalan Merpati lot, Taman Eng Ann, Klang.
"A total of 34 local drug addicts were handed over to AADK for further action, while six foreign drug addicts are being investigated under the Immigration Act for lacking valid travel documents," he said.
Fadil added that the operation was carried out following various reported criminal cases in the two districts, including snatch thefts and extortions that went viral on social media.
"We, at the Criminal Investigation Department, are working to eradicate all secret society operations and activities associated with extortion, fights to control certain areas, drug distribution and addiction, as well as snatch thefts that have caused injuries.
"With these efforts, we hope that the community can live without fear of crime and share information with the police," he said.