156 Suspects arrested in bust of 19 scam call centres

JOHOR BARU: Johor police have dismantled the operations of 19 scam call centres, resulting in the arrest of 156 suspects from January to September this year.

These call centres were run by syndicate members who targeted victims with fraudulent investment schemes and fake job offers. Their activities also included impersonation, loan and love scams, and phone fraud, leading to millions of ringgit in losses.

Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar reported that a total of 157 individuals, including foreign nationals, were apprehended between January 1 and September 30. The police have opened 19 investigation files, with seven suspects charged under the Common Gaming Houses Act, Moneylenders Act, and Immigration Act.

In addition to the arrests, police seized 5.4 tonnes of drugs valued at RM57.84 million during the same period, along with drug-related assets worth RM13.96 million.

Kumar noted a 5.61 percent increase in the crime index, with 4,027 cases reported between January and September, compared to 3,813 cases in the same timeframe last year. Despite the rise, the department successfully solved 62.63 percent of these cases.

“The narcotics department has also made significant strides in drug enforcement, arresting 19,155 individuals for various drug offenses this year,” Kumar stated during the monthly assembly at the Johor police contingent headquarters.

Earlier, he presented appreciation certificates to 49 police officers and members of the public, including journalists from the New Straits Times Press. Among the recipients were the investigating officers involved in the six-year-old Albertine Leo Jia Hui kidnapping case, who successfully brought 15 charges against the perpetrators.

Kumar commended these officers for their relentless dedication to ensuring thorough investigations. Certificates were also awarded to three policemen from the Segamat district headquarters for reporting attempted bribery offers.