In all, police have seized 22 handguns, one rifle, 916 bullets, drugs worth RM1.75 million, jewellery, RM167,193 in cash, and two vehicles – a Toyota Fortuner and a Mazda CX5, Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Mohmad Salleh said today.

The raids and arrests were carried out under “Ops Cantas Khas” which began in 2015.

Mohmad said in the latest arrests on Feb 3, police nabbed 38 suspected thugs between the ages of 19 and 62, affiliated with “Geng 360 Devan”.

Four of those arrested had the “Datuk” honorific.

According to police, “Gang 360 Devan” was involved in the kidnap and murder of three “Satu Hati” gang members in 2015 and 2016 when the turf war between these gangs escalated.

Mohmad said 16 suspects were being investigated for offences under the Penal Code while the remaining 22 were being probed for offences under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

The operation is jointly conducted by the Special Task Force on Organised Crime (Staffoc), Special Task Force for Anti-Vice and Gambling (STAGG) and the Special Tactics and Intelligence Narcotics Group (STING).

Mohmad said police had carried out eight major raids in Johor, Penang and the Klang Valley under “Ops Cantas Khas” since 2015.

Suspected members of gangs such as “Geng 04 Paper Kumar”, “Geng 21 Japan”, “Geng 04 Sungai Siput”, “Geng Latino Dago”, “Geng William”, “Geng 24 Penang” and more recently, “Geng 360 Devan”, have been detained under the operation.

Mohmad said the operation would continue until there was a drastic drop in the number of gang-related crimes and shootings.

He appealed to the public to provide police with information on gang-related activities.