Triad members getting DESPERATE to remove tattoos

JOHOR BARU - Police have planted their men in tattoo parlours and skin clinics to look for gang members.

However, Bukit Aman said that the dossier it had on every gang member was comprehensive enough to nab them, with or without their tattoos.

Under the ongoing op cantas Khas to nab gangsters and triad members, police have also tightened their operations at the Malaysian-Thai border as gang members try to cross over to have their tattoos removed.

Federal police Anti-Vice, Gaming and Secret Societies Division (D7) principal assistant director Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan said law enforcement officers had anticipated gang members wanting to remove their tattoos but added that identifying tattoos was just one aspect used to round up gang members.

Jalil said police were aware of certain gang members' movements as well as their bases and hangouts.

"We know what they are up to. We also know that many of them are just modifying their tattoos, as it is easier and less painful.

"Some notorious 08 Gang members are even changing their '08' logos to look like a flower. They can try all the tricks but we are on to them. It is just a matter of time before they are arrested."

As of yesterday, police arrested 8,125 criminals under Op Cantas Khas. In all, 194,492 suspects were screened. Jalil said police intelligence on gang members went beyond identifying visible marks on their bodies.

Their dossiers also included information provided by fellow gang members, in addition to profiles of members compiled during the Emergency Ordinance days, as well as information from the Prisons Department.

"If they think we are relying only on tattoos to identify them, they are mistaken. Many Malay gang members are without tattoos and they make up the largest number of those arrested under Op Cantas."

A check by the New Straits Times revealed that many tattoo parlours and skin clinics specialising in laser tattoo removal were enjoying brisk business as there had been a spike in demand for tattoo alterations and removal, especially by male customers aged between 30 and 40. These business owners said they did not ask questions as their job was to provide a service.

Jalil said police would not want such business owners to risk their safety by refusing gang members their services.

"We do not fault owners of tattoo parlours and skin clinics for not informing us when gang members seek their services.

"We have our men among them. Gang members also always go back to where they first got their tattoos."

Jeff Chew, a tattoo artist with experience covering up and redesigning old tattoos, said many outlets offered the service as the demand for it was higher than removals.

This month alone, he said at least 10 people had come in asking to redesign their existing tattoos.

"They don't carry tags with them, but my instinct tells me that some of the tattoos are gang-related symbols."

The Johor Baru-based tattoo artist, who operates in Jalan Wong Ah Fook, said he would only recommend removals if the tattoo was small, although it would be possible to draw bigger and darker tattoos to cover an existing one.

According to ido's Cosmeceutical medical director, Dr Lucas Chia, laser was used to permanently remove tattoos and works better on tattoos that were less than two years old.

He said tattoo removals would require about 10 visits to the clinic, depending on its size and depth of the ink penetration.

"Removing tattoos is not only costly, but also painful and time-consuming. Customers have discreetly sought my services to remove their tattoos, which they said are religious symbols."

Equally challenging to remove are tattoos from people of darker complexion and senior citizens.

Owners of several tattoo parlours in the Klang Valley yesterday said they wanted to help police identify those with gang tattoos but that those they had seen in the media were grainy.

"It would be helpful if there was a list to look out for. While business to remove tattoos may be brisk for some, our numbers have dwindled since the police started arresting gangsters with tattoos.

"Maybe they (customers) are afraid that the tattoos they opt for could resemble gang tattoos," said a Bukit Bintang tattoo artist.

Another tattoo artist at Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur, said several men had visited his premises to remove their tattoos but were turned away. Additional reporting by Hariz Mohd

NST