MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed that the owner of the company would be summoned soon to provide a statement.

“We have reason to believe the media company is being used as a front to enable and facilitate money laundering activities,” Bernama reported him as saying today.

Azam said an investigation is ongoing to determine the company’s involvement in the alleged smuggling operation.

He also confirmed that the two journalists arrested are believed to have previously served in the armed forces.

“An initial investigation suggests they may have provided information to the smugglers,” he said.

Earlier, Berita Harian quoted a source as saying the two journalists were believed to have retired from the armed forces.

They were among 10 people arrested two days ago, including five senior armed forces officers, for alleged involvement in the syndicate.

The other three are a company manager, an administrative assistant with the Malaysian Medical Association, and an Indonesian woman.

The smuggled goods reportedly included drugs, cigarettes and other contraband from neighbouring countries, with an estimated monthly value of RM5 million.

Drugs, weighing equipment, liquor, and imitation firearms, and RM63,000 in cash were also seized from the premises.

Four of the men have been remanded until Aug 20, and two men and one woman have been remanded until Aug 18. The remand order for the other men and the Indonesian woman ends today.