Two Men Abducted as Collateral for Drug Debt, Police Hunt Mastermind in Thailand
KOTA BHARU: Two men have fallen victim to abduction after being used as collateral for a debt related to a drug and migrant smuggling syndicate amounting to approximately RM33,000, believed to be owed by their family members.
Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the two victims, aged 51 and 35, were abducted in two separate incidents in Tumpat and Pasir Mas on June 6, before being taken into Thailand through an illegal crossing.
He said police received a report regarding the incident from the wife of one victim, before launching an operation to trace and rescue the victims with the assistance of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Bukit Aman.
“Upon receiving the information, we immediately carried out an operation and investigation. However, the victims were taken into Thailand.
“With the assistance of Thai authorities, both victims were found safe and left by the roadside in Mundok, Thailand, before being handed back to PDRM,” he said at a press conference after the Kelantan Contingent Police Headquarters monthly assembly for June 2026, here today.
Mohd Yusoff said preliminary investigations revealed that the motive for the abduction was closely linked to a debt involving drug and migrant smuggling activities, but the individuals abducted were not the debtors.
Instead, he said the victims are believed to have been used as collateral to pressure the individuals who owe money to the syndicate to settle the outstanding payment.
“The debtor is not the victim. They were taken as collateral to apply pressure to the party who has a debt with the syndicate. We believe the debt is related to drug and migrant smuggling activities into this country,” he said.
He said both victims have drug-related records, but so far police have not been able to confirm their involvement in the syndicate’s activities under investigation.
Mohd Yusoff said police have also identified two individuals believed to be the masterminds behind the case, namely Hamzah Mohamed, known by the nickname “Mejah”, and Mohamad Syamsul Azroy Che Anuar, or “Mamat”.
He said both suspects are believed to still be in Thailand and are now being hunted by authorities.
“Police have issued a wanted person status for Hamzah and are seeking assistance from Thai authorities as well as Interpol to trace the two suspects,” he said.
Mohd Yusoff said investigations also found that Hamzah is believed to have ordered Mohamad Syamsul to burn a Perodua Myvi car used in the abduction incident to destroy evidence.
“The car was burned in the Gelam Mas area, Pasir Mas, after the suspects realised police were conducting an operation to track them down,” he said.
Mohd Yusoff said that so far, five individuals, including a woman, have been remanded until June 22 to assist in the investigation.
He said the woman is believed to have a relationship with the individual targeted by the syndicate due to the debt under investigation.
“The case is being investigated under provisions of the law relating to abduction, and police are completing their investigation, including identifying the network of individuals involved in the case,” he said.
Bernama