KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has crippled a southern smuggling syndicate with the arrest of 10 people, including three serving and two former senior military officers.
Sources said the suspects, who included an Indonesian woman and were aged between 30 and 55, were nabbed in the Klang Valley during the Ops Sohor, which began at 6.30 am today.
The operation was conducted by the MACC Intelligence Division in cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad.
“The senior officers are from the Malaysian Armed Forces intelligence division, while the two former officers were also from the same division. They were tasked with monitoring and curbing smuggling activities.
“They are believed to have colluded with the smuggling syndicate for the past five years and are suspected of having amassed more than RM3 million in bribes,” a source told Bernama.
Initial investigations found that the senior officers, who are the main suspects, allegedly leaked military operational information to smugglers, facilitating the entry of contraband such as drugs, cigarettes and various other goods from neighbouring countries into Malaysia, with an estimated total value of RM5 million per month.
The raids followed about 12 months of intelligence gathering, and the suspects are believed to have received between RM30,000 and RM50,000 in bribes for each smuggling trip conducted.
The MACC also seized more than RM63,000 in cash, packages of drugs, weighing and measuring equipment, liquor, and imitation firearms found at the raided premises. The Indonesian woman suspect did not have any valid travel documents.
MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Operations) Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, when contacted, confirmed the arrests and said all the suspects will be brought to the Putrajaya Magistrate’s Court tomorrow for remand applications under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009.
He stressed that this operation must be taken seriously by all parties as it was to curb smuggling activities that could compromise national security.
“Although we have various agencies to monitor and take action, smuggling activities still occur and must be eradicated,” he said.
-- BERNAMA
