Police nab 26 suspected loan sharks, seize property worth RM2m in Johor, Perak

KUALA LUMPUR: Police arrested 26 individuals suspected to be members of the "Ah Long" gang or loan sharks who resorted to violence to collect debts in Johor Baru and Ipoh, Perak.
In the operation which began from 10pm until 4am today, 23 local men and three women, including a Vietnamese, were arrested.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said those detained were aged between 17 and 51 years.
"We seized 21 luxury vehicles of various brands worth about RM1.4 million and RM416,050 in cash," he told Bernama here today.
He said also seized were 18 women designer handbags worth RM150,000 as well as 83 ATM cards, 17 bank books, nine machetes and nine samurai swords.
Acryl Sani said value of confiscated property during the entire operation was estimated at RM2 million.
He said the syndicate attracted "customers" by pasting advertisement and distributing pamphlets in residential and commercial areas in the southern part of the peninsula around Johor besides resorting to violence by intimidating and splashing paint when collecting money.
According to him the borrowers would be charged high interests of between 10 to 15% and offered new loans to help settle the loan. — Bernama