Malaysia's anti-graft agency busts arms smuggling ring masterminded by senior military officers
The bust was carried out by the MACC's Intelligence Division with support from its Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad.
KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has crippled a major weapons smuggling syndicate allegedly masterminded by senior Armed Forces officers operating in the southern part of the country.
The bust, codenamed Ops Sohor, was carried out by the MACC's Intelligence Division with support from its Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad.
Sources said five senior military officers and five civilians, including an Indonesian national, aged between 30 and 55, were arrested around the Klang Valley in simultaneous raids which began at 6.30am on Aug 13.
The officers, from the Armed Forces' intelligence unit, included two retired members of the same division.
They had been tasked with monitoring and preventing smuggling activities, but are believed to have colluded with the syndicate over the past five years, allegedly amassing more than RM3 million (S$915,000) in illicit gains.
Initial investigations revealed that the suspects had allegedly leaked military operational information to smugglers and conspired to bring in prohibited items such as drugs, cigarettes and other contraband from neighbouring countries.
The smuggling activities were estimated to be worth around RM5 million a month.
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'The suspects are believed to have received bribes of between RM30,000 and RM50,000 for each smuggling trip,' a source said.
The raids, which followed a year-long surveillance operation, also led to the seizure of more than RM63,000 in cash, several packets of drugs, weighing and measuring equipment, alcoholic beverages, and replica firearms from the targeted premises.
Sources described the smuggling network involving the senior officers as 'large and complex' and difficult to dismantle.
During the raids, an Indonesian woman without valid travel documents was also detained. She is believed to be the mistress of one of the military officers under investigation.
When contacted, MACC deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya confirmed the arrests.
The case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009.
He stressed that the operation should serve as a serious reminder to all parties, given that the smuggling activities posed a threat to national security.
'Despite having multiple agencies to monitor and take action, smuggling activities still persist,' he said.
All suspects will be brought before the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court on Aug 14 for a remand application under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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