POLICE NAB CRIME SYNDICATES LINKED TO RM4 MLN LOSSES IN JOHOR

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Two organised crime syndicates active in Johor, responsible for losses exceeding RM4 million, have been crippled through operations dubbed Ops Bugil and Ops Shutter.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail said Ops Bugil, targeting online sexual extortion (sextortion), dismantled a syndicate active since early 2024 that caused losses exceeding RM3 million.

Six male suspects aged 18 to 33 were arrested on Jan 15 under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (SOSMA) and will be charged at the Johor Bahru Sessions Court on Feb 12, while five other members, including the 23-year-old local ringleader, remain at large.

“This syndicate created fake social media accounts or posed as attractive women to lure victims into explicit video calls, before sending phishing links to access victims’ mobile phone data.

“Recordings were then used to blackmail victims into making payments in stages,” he told a press conference here today.

The group was also involved in human trafficking, recruiting locals, including minors, with promises of salaries between RM2,200 and RM4,000 a month before taking them to countries believed to include Laos and Cambodia, where they were forced to work up to 12 hours daily.

“Victims’ identification documents were confiscated and they faced physical and sexual abuse if they disobeyed instructions,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ops Shutter solved 32 house and shop break-in cases in Johor involving a gang active between 2022 and October 2025, causing losses of about RM1 million.

In a Jan 24 operation, two suspects aged 22 and 26 were detained under SOSMA, while four other members aged 22 to 38 are serving prison sentences at Kluang Prison for other offences.

“The gang targeted unoccupied terrace houses and business premises with shutter doors, breaking in using tools such as crowbars and cutters before escaping with valuables, including jewellery, cash and vehicles,“ Mohd Khalid said.

All suspects will be charged under Section 130B(1) of the Penal Code at the Johor Bahru Sessions Court on Feb 12.

-- BERNAMA