Latest news with #OpsSohor
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
TMJ's network helped in probe into syndicate involving senior officers, says MACC chief
CYBERJAYA: Johor Regent Tunku Mahkota Ismail has been assisting the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) with information in its probe into a smuggling syndicate involving senior Armed Forces officers, says Tan Sri Azam Baki. 'TMJ, as the Regent of Johor, has been very cooperative and wants this issue eradicated. 'We have also received much information through his networking,' the MACC chief commissioner told reporters here on Saturday (Aug 16). Azam confirmed that the case remains focused in the southern region of the country, with 10 individuals remanded so far under Ops Sohor. They include five senior Armed Forces officers, two individuals claiming to be journalists, a company manager, an administrative assistant with the Malaysian Medical Association and a foreign woman. He clarified that the two suspects identified as 'journalists' were in fact social media operators rather than mainstream reporters. 'They were employed by a company we are investigating. Both are ex-military personnel and, from what we see, acted more as enablers by leaking information to criminals involved in smuggling,' he said. Azam added that these suspects are believed to have collaborated with serving and former Armed Forces officers detained during the operation. 'This should never have happened. Those entrusted with safeguarding the nation's security must not be leaking classified information. If proven, it cannot be taken lightly,' he stressed. He said the MACC is working closely with the Armed Forces, including the Chief of Defence Forces, to ensure a thorough investigation. 'We will look at every relevant law - corruption, money laundering and military regulations, including court-martial provisions,' said Azam. He revealed that the suspects' modus operandi involved leaking intelligence on law enforcement operations to smugglers in exchange for bribes. The illicit gains, he said, were often kept in cash, with investigations ongoing to trace where the money has been stored. Azam also disclosed that the suspects may have extended their activities into narcotics, with that aspect now referred to the police Narcotics Department. 'From what we know, this has been going on for four to five years. If further evidence emerges, more individuals may be called in,' he said. The 10 suspects, aged between 30 and 55 years old, were arrested in the Klang Valley earlier this week by MACC's Intelligence Division with police support.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- South China Morning Post
Malaysia smashes smuggling ring masterminded by senior army officials
Malaysia 's anti-corruption officials have crippled a major smuggling syndicate allegedly masterminded by senior armed forces officers operating in the southern part of the country. The operation, code-named Ops Sohor, was carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's Intelligence Division with support from its 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 starting at 6.30am on Wednesday. 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, reportedly amassing more than 3 million ringgit (US$712,000) 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 about 5 million ringgit a month. 'The suspects are believed to have received bribes of between 30,000 ringgit and 50,000 ringgit for each smuggling trip,' a source said.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
MACC: Drug ring led by army officer
General orders: 10 individuals, including five senior armed forces officers, being escorted to the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court. Senior officer is believed to have been directly involved in smuggling activities KUALA LUMPUR: An army officer arrested on suspicion of involvement in a smuggling syndicate is believed to also be the mastermind of a drug trafficking operation, says Tan Sri Azam Baki. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner said the discovery followed a raid conducted with the police's Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), during which a large quantity of drugs was seized. He said the army officer was believed to have not only leaked important information to criminals, but was also directly involved in smuggling activities. Azam said the MACC will seek additional information from the Defence Ministry to complete its investigation into the three serving and two former senior military officers allegedly linked to the syndicate. 'The information, including reports classified as confidential, will aid our investigations into activities believed to be occurring mainly in the waters of the Strait of Malacca off Melaka and Johor. 'I would like to thank the Chief of Defence Force for supporting the MACC and facilitating our investigation,' he told reporters during the MACC Chief Commissioners' Roundtable Conference, Bernama reported. Bukit Aman NCID director Comm Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed that four individuals were arrested on suspicion of being involved in a drug smuggling syndicate during the raid. At another event, Armed Forces Chief General Tan Sri Mohd Nizam Jaffar said they are ready to hand over sensitive documents to the MACC to facilitate the probe. 'There is absolutely no issue (in sharing documents with the MACC). The main thing is to determine whether the allegations are true or not. If they are indeed true, we will take appropriate action,' he told reporters. Mohd Nizam gave assurances that there was no operational compromise after the officers had their duties taken over. Meanwhile, 10 individuals, including five senior Armed Forces officers were remanded yesterday. Also remanded were two online portal journalists, a company manager, an administrative assistant at the Malaysian Medical Association and a foreign woman. Four suspects were remanded until Aug 20, three until Aug 18 while another three will be detained until today. The remand orders were issued by magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin after the MACC filed the application at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court. On Wednesday, the MACC revealed that a smuggling ring allegedly involving banned items such as drugs, cigarettes and other contraband was uncovered following the arrest of 10 people, including five senior military officers in a special operation codenamed Ops Sohor. The syndicate, believed to have been operating for the past five years, allegedly involved senior officers from the military's intelligence unit as well as two former members from the same division. The smuggling activities were estimated to be worth around RM5mil a month. The officers are alleged to have amassed more than RM3mil in illicit gains over the five years.
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Senior Armed Forces officers among 10 remanded by MACC in smuggling probe
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of ten individuals, including five senior Armed Forces officers, who were detained over suspected involvement in a smuggling syndicate operating in the southern region of the country have been remanded. The others remanded were two online portal journalists, a company manager, an administrative assistant at the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) and a foreign woman. Four male suspects have been remanded for Aug 20. Another two men and one woman will be remanded until Aug 18, while two men and an Indonesian woman will be detained until Aug 15. The remand orders were issued by Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin after the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) filed the application at a Putrajaya Magistrate's Court on Thursday (Aug 14). ALSO READ: MACC busts smuggling ring masterminded by senior Armed Forces officers Sources said the arrests, involving suspects aged between 30 and 55 years old, were made in the Klang Valley during 'Ops Sohor' conducted by MACC's intelligence division with the cooperation of the police on Wednesday (Aug 13). "The senior military intelligence officers are believed to have colluded with the syndicate, leaking operational details to help them avoid enforcement action. "The smuggled items included drugs, cigarettes and other goods from neighbouring countries, with an estimated value of RM5mil each month,' the source said. The investigation, carried out over the past 12 months, found that the syndicate allegedly paid between RM30,000 and RM50,000 to the military officers for each smuggling operation. The officers' involvement was described as extensive and complex. During Wednesday's operation, MACC also seized more than RM63,000 in cash, several packets of suspected drugs, weighing and measuring equipment, alcohol, and a replica firearm. MACC senior director of Intelligence Datuk Saiful Ezral Arifin when contacted, confirmed the arrests, saying the case is being investigated for corruption and money laundering activities.
The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
Army officer believed to be drug ring mastermind arrested, says MACC
KUALA LUMPUR: An army officer arrested during Ops Sohor on suspicion of being involved in a smuggling syndicate is also believed to be the mastermind of a drug trafficking ring. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the discovery followed a raid conducted jointly with the police's Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) on Wednesday (Aug 13) where a large quantity of drugs was seized. He said that the army officer not only leaked information to criminals but was also directly involved in smuggling. He told this to reporters at the MACC Chief Commissioners' Roundtable Conference 2025, here on Thursday (Aug 14). It was reported that 10 individuals, including three army officers and two former senior army officers aged from 30 to 55 and an Indonesian citizen were arrested in the Klang Valley. The raid, which followed a year-long investigation, led to the seizure of more than RM63,000 in cash, packages of drugs, weighing and measuring equipment, liquor and imitation weapons. Meanwhile, Bukit Aman NCID director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan confirmed that four individuals were arrested on suspicion of being involved in a drug smuggling syndicate. The suspects included a military officer believed to be the mastermind, a local man and two foreign women. The seizures comprised 70 packets of Methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA) powder weighing 1.1kg, cannabis (92g), ketamine (22g), liquid MDMA (64g) and ecstasy (0.6g), all weighing a total of 1.3kg and worth RM30,000, he said. – Bernama
