Criminal gang active since 2009 busted in Klang Valley

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have smashed a criminal gang active since 2009 with the arrest of eight suspects and one shot dead in several operations in the Klang Valley on Saturday until early this morning.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim said the suspect who was shot dead was a 40-year-old local man who first fired at police when a team of policemen was raiding his hideout in Salak Selatan here at 10 pm on Saturday.

He said a search on the dead suspect yielded a black CZ 75 Compact pistol with five live bullets.

"Police also found a hand grenade in the sling bag of the dead man believed to be involved in burglary cases in Tasik Sri Permaiasuri Cheras in 2021 involving losses amounting to RM693,000," he told a media conference here today.

Azmi said following the raid, police launched Op Tiger to track down the remaining accomplices of the dead suspect and succeeded in apprehending eight suspects including a woman who are locals.

He said police also seized another similar pistol at a godown in North Klang near here in a raid at about 6 am this morning.

"Based on initial police investigations, the group is believed to be involved in 15 robbery cases, three murders and various other cases involving drugs, house break-ins, and vehicle thefts," he said.

According to him, all the suspects aged between 28 and 67, are dangerous individuals with one individual having up to 40 past criminal records.

He said police are now hunting for the remaining members of the gang and believed several arrests would be made soon.

"Members of the public with information on the gang have been urged to channel information to the nearest police station," he said.

-- BERNAMA