Penang police chief Dennis Lim says the syndicates used the island as a base to target victims mainly overseas, including in China, Japan, the US, Brazil and Hong Kong.
Penang police chief Dennis Lim said the state commercial crime investigation department operation involved five raids in the Timur Laut district, six in the Barat Daya district, and three in Seberang Perai Tengah, following intelligence gathering and surveillance.
“In the raids, police arrested 93 Chinese nationals, 29 Vietnamese, four Japanese, three Taiwanese, two Cambodians, one Myanmar national, and nine locals, all aged between 18 and 48.
“They are from different groups or syndicates. They were believed to be involved in investment scams, love scams, impersonation of police officers, and offered non-existent jobs using various platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok,” he told a press conference here today.
He said the syndicates were believed to have rented houses in recent months to carry out their operations, using Penang as a base to target victims mainly overseas, including in China, Japan, the US, Brazil and Hong Kong.
Lim said police also seized equipment, including mobile phones, laptops, tablets, internet routers, electronic equipment and computer accessories, believed to have been used in the syndicates’ operations, valued at RM1.4 million.
He added police were investigating potential abuse of immigration passes and facilities for illegal activities, although most foreigners detained entered Malaysia legally with valid passports.
All suspects have been remanded, and the case is being investigated under Section 420 read together with Section 120B of the Penal Code, as well as Section 6(3) and Section 15(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. - FMT
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