Joint enforcement operation busts 'Tonto' syndicates

PUTRAJAYA: A joint-special force unit of police and Road Transport Department (RTD) have apprehended several masterminds of "Tonto" in a special operation against the syndicates in Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Perak last week.
In the operation held on April 26, police seized 13 walkie talkies, 13 vehicles, 13 handphones and three tipper trucks transporting sand, rocks and steels.
Police and RTD arrested 15 people of whom eight were under the Criminal Procedure Code and Prevention of Crime Act (POCA) while seven others under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing public servants in discharging their duties
However, one was subsequently released as he was only a passenger in one of the tonto vehicle.
Police are still looking for eight other suspects still at large.
RTD enforcement director Datuk Valluvan Veloo said those arrested were identified as the ring leaders of the "Tonto" - people working in cohort to alert lorry operators of RTD operations and to trail and intimidate officers from carrying out their duties.
Speaking to reporters at the Transport Ministry today, he said, the joint operation with Bukit Aman's anti-vice, gambling and secret societies division (D7) were conducted to combat the threats posed by the syndicates.
"Tonto's protect certain lorry operators by providing tip-off to drivers of overloading trucks to avoid detection from RTD enforcement officers," added Valluvan.
Crime Investigation Division director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh said their investigations also found tontos resorting to bullying and assaulting RTD officers to stop them from carrying out their duties.
"We managed to arrest 15 of them of whom eight are under POCA. We hope to arrest those at large soon," he added.
Meanwhile, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the government suffers losses up to RM12 million annually in unpaid taxes due to "Tonto" menace.
"It is estimated around 2,000 trucks in the Klang Valley have committed various offences by carrying more cargo with no valid road tax and still plying the roads due to information and protection provided by 'Tonto'," he said.
He stressed that Public Works Department (PWD) has estimated the cost of repairing the damage roads caused by overloading trucks at RM100 million a year.
Liow said the Ministry and the PWD will study on the existing regulations on whether it is feasible to increase the existing weight limit taking into account road safety factors and that of road users.