Malaysian police arrested 187 individuals involved in an international online scam syndicate after 46 raids on residential premises across Klang Valley from May 6 to 7. The operation, named Ops Teguh 2.0, targeted multiple luxury condominiums and resulted in the seizure of RM57.68 million in assets, including three luxury properties valued at RM38 million and 20 luxury vehicles worth RM6.58 million [1, 2, 3, 4].

The suspects included 151 men and 36 women from varied nationalities: 129 Chinese, 23 Malaysians, 9 Japanese, 8 Vietnamese, 7 Indonesians, 4 Laotians, 3 Thais, 2 Filipinos, and 2 Myanmar nationals. Officials said the syndicate primarily targeted victims in China, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan through scams such as fake investment platforms, phone scams impersonating Japanese police using apps like Telegram and Line, online romance scams, and fake online gambling operations [1, 2, 3, 5, 4].

Assets confiscated also comprised 67 luxury items valued at RM12 million, 556 digital devices worth RM552,000, cash, foreign currency, bank cards and cryptocurrencies valued at around RM549,786 [1, 3, 5].

The Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department led the operation with support from the Criminal Investigation Department, Anti-Money Laundering division, Special Branch, CyberSecurity Malaysia, and Telekom Malaysia. Police have opened 24 investigation papers covering charges related to fraud, criminal conspiracy, computer crimes, money laundering, and terrorism financing [1, 2, 3, 5, 4]. Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail stated, "The success of this operation also proves the capability and preparedness of PDRM in carrying out integrated action to protect the public from the threat of international scam syndicates" [2].

Investigations continue to identify masterminds, financial managers, and cross-border links of the syndicate. Three suspects remain at large [1, 3, 5].

In a separate case, police announced on May 11 a directive to prosecute 26 members of an organized crime gang in Kuching court, following arrests made during Op Pusak Merah. Additionally, 35 people, including Malaysian food delivery riders, were arrested in a cross-border crackdown on loan shark syndicates that used intimidation tactics in Singapore. The loan shark gangs recruited Malaysian gig workers through online platforms like Telegram to deliver parcels including pork to intimidate Muslim borrowers in Singapore [1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10].

Inspector-General Mohd Khalid warned, "Individuals recruited into such schemes are often unaware of the true nature of the deliveries assigned to them. We always remind the public to understand why they are being used," adding, "We always remind the public not to enter into any agreements or arrangements with unknown individuals as we will arrest and charge those involved, including mule account owners" [7, 10].

Under Singapore law, riders may face legal action related to religious provocation and illegal money lending regardless of intent [7, 8, 10].

Police pledged to continue efforts to eradicate these activities and urged vigilance. The investigation into the online scam syndicate and other crime networks is ongoing [7].