Police name list of “most wanted” gang leaders

In a crackdown on gangs and serious crime, the Home Ministry has revealed the names of more than 30 leaders of Gangs 04, 08 and 36 and their "areas" following the launch of Ops Cantas Khas recently.

The Star said today that a source from the ministry confirmed that the suspects on the list were still active in their jurisdictions.

Among those whose identities were made public are Tiram Sasi (Johor), Sungai Way Sugu (KL), Prai Bala (Penang), Langkap Sasi (Perak) from Gang 04; Indren (Penang), Dark (KL), Siva Guru (KL) from Gang 08; Cendol Kanna (KL), Devan (leader of the gang in KL and who is also a millionaire drug trafficker) and Kajang Kalai (Kajang) from Gang 36.

Police have also arrested 4,806 out of the 122,255 people under investigation by the authorities and have seized 221 weapons, including firearms and home-made air rifles.

“Among others, we seized 10 firearms, 10 air rifles, three fake pistols, 10 home-made rifles, 11 bullets, 21 swords, 68 knives, 45 parang, six axes, 12 iron rods and four wooden rods,” The Star quoted Bukit Aman Anti-Vice, Gambling and Secret Societies Division (D7) principal assistant director Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan as saying.

He revealed that the arrests were carried out for various offences, including firearms possession and involvement in a gang, adding that 222 out of the 75,575 vehicles checked by police during OPs Cantas Khas, were reported to be stolen.

Ops Cantas was launched following a sharp increase in shooting cases in the country. It was believed to have been sparked by rivalry among gangs who are linked to drug trafficking and extortion.

Those shot dead, the daily went on, were part of the gangs, with the most recent being the head of Geng 36, who was recently gunned down in Batu Gajah, Perak. He was an ex-air force personnel.

Meanwhile, Jalil revealed that nine gang members were arrested as they were trying to cross into Thailand at the the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine Complex in Bukit Kayu Hitam at 7.30pm yesterday.

He disclosed that the suspects, aged between 24 and 47, were members of the 04 and 08 gangs from Perak, Kedah and Selangor. They were nabbed while walking to the checkpoint by the special operations team from Bukit Aman.

"Acting on a public tip off, we arrested the men while walking at the complex. All of them were unarmed," he was quoted as saying by The Star, adding that the suspects also had tattoos of their gangs emblazoned on their bodies.

Jalil said police believe the men were crossing the border to have their tattoos removed.