Arrest of rogue cops shakes NCID

IPOH: A major shake-up of the federal police narcotics crime investigation department (NCID) is underway following the arrest of 16 policemen who allegedly enriched themselves by colluding with the enemy they should be crippling — drug syndicates.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Noor Rashid Ibrahim said the reshuffling will take place soon following the uncovering of black sheep in the department.
The NCID personnel, among them a DSP and an inspector were arrested by police and being held under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) for allegedly protecting drug syndicates in the country by turning a blind eye to their activities and tipping off drug lords of planned raids by special police crack teams.
In return for their favours, they were paid kickbacks of tens of thousand ringgit each month by drug kingpins.
Nor Rashid said the alleged rogue cops will be detained for 28 days under Sosma until investigations are concluded and the findings are sent to the Attorney-General Chambers for further action.
"Based on our investigation we found our planned operations against drug distribution syndicates had been leaked. We cannot allow this to go on.
"The suspects have links with the syndicates and get paid for the tip-offs. More personnel are expected to be picked to facilitate investigation under our operation codenamed "Kabaddi". They were working with the Devan Gang whose members were also held in the operation," he told reporters after closing the national cadet police corps at the General Operations Force camp in Ulu Kinta here today.
It is learnt that since 2014 with the forming of special anti-narcotics crack teams such as the federal police Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING), drug ring leaders are struggling to keep their activities afloat as they were constantly pursued, with hundreds being smoked out of the lucrative illegal trade.
As such, drug kingpin who are often linked to underworld gangs took to luring crooked policemen with handsome rewards and cash in return for tip-offs on planned anti-narcotics raids and operations.
Sources said in last week's case, following several cases of failed anti-narcotics operations over months, police top brass became suspicious and ordered a probe which uncovered evidence of liaisons between rogue cops and drug dealers.
Ops Kabaddi was then covertly launched before the rogue cops were identified and held over several days.
Over the years, police have held dozens of its own including anti-narcotics police who were found to be working hand-in-hand with drug and other criminal syndicates.
In January, the Sting team seized RM6.7 million worth syabu and heroin after nabbing an ASP and six other police personnel in an operation in Kedah and Kuala Lumpur.
The policemen were personnel of the KL contingent and the National Border Security Agency (Aksem) based in Bukit Kayu Hitam.