Penang police target nine 'Gang 24' members over gang fight

The days of the notorious secret society, 'Gang 24', are numbered in Penang as the police turn on the heat to tracking down nine members of the notorious gang.

The gang, the police have learnt, has also teamed up with another secret society, 'Sio Sam Ong' (Three Little Emperors Gang) to commit crimes in the state and share the spoils.

Last week, police investigations revealed that members of 'Gang 24' - noted for extortion, protection rackets and gang fights - were currently embroiled in an internal tussle for power and 'territorial' rights.

Hence, the nine members who got wind of the police dragnet aimed at bringing them to book, have gone into hiding.

Bernama learnt that the fugitives might have fled to Perak to avoid police detection.

Penang police chief, Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the fight amongst 'Gang 24' members could be due to territorial disputes.

"We have identified about eight to nine of the gang members involved in the gang fight (last week) and we will hunt them down if they do not surrender.

"Those involved in the fight will be charged under the Prevention of Crime Act 2013. We believe they are in hiding at neighbouring states," he told reporters here Sunday.

"I've warned them not to create problems and next, we will identify each of them in a places where they usually commit crimes and intensify the crackdown on the gangsters," Abdul Rahim added.

He also urged the public to lodge reports if there were extortion activities.

Among other active secret societies in Penang are the 'Phneah', 'Ang Kim Leng', 'Malay Gang 77 and Indian-dominated 'Gang 04' and 'Gang 08'.

It was reported earlier that the police had screened 30,112 people since 'Ops Cantas Khas' was launched in August last year, and of the number, 6,334 people were detained for various offences.