18 suspected triad members held

GEORGE TOWN: Police have detained 18 people who were suspected to be members of the notorious 04 triad in Penang during an operation to cripple the illicit activities of organised crime.
Penang Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Datuk Zainol Samah said that the suspects were detained at several locations during an operation code named "Op Cantas" between Oct 30 to Oct 31.
The arrest gave the police a lead in their attempts to hunt down suspected members of Gang 04 in Penang who were believed to be involved in organised crime such as causing hurt, robberies, extortion, murder and drug trafficking.
"All suspects aged between 23- and 54-years old were remanded for 28 days under Section (4) Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) to facilitate investigation," he told a press conference.
He said that the suspects will be investigated under Section 130 V and 130 W of the Penal Code for involvement in organised crime activities and being a member of a crime group.
Police have also identified 10 more suspects to detain including a 17-year-old teenager.
On a separate case, Zainol said police have arrested an Indonesian, who is believed to be involved in a spate of break-ins in the state.
He said the 42-year old man was picked up while running away with his other three accomplices after breaking into a house at Changkat Sungai Ara 2 in Desa Ara, Bayan Lepas.
With the arrest, police also found tools such as screw driver and masks which they believed were used as house break-in tools.
Police also retrieved some of the stolen items such as cash and jewellery.
The case is being investigated under Section 395 / 397 of the Penal Code.