Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said the gang, active since 2023 with 33 members and a Malaysian mastermind, had been involved in several violent crimes, including murder, armed assault, arson and gang robbery in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang and Perak.
“In early 2025, the gang sparked general concern when a recording of the armed assault of two men in front of a shop in Taman Sentosa, Klang, went viral on social media.
“The incident stemmed from a misunderstanding between gangs and a dispute over territory,” he said at a press conference in Bukit Aman today.
Khalid said the 17 suspects, aged 19 to 44 and from two separate groups, were arrested in an operation named Op Jack Sparrow under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.
When asked to clarify the number of gangs involved, he said the police were only mentioning the main gang for now.
“The public may be aware of (the involvement of) several named gangs, but we have not recognised any of them. We prefer to say that it is an organised criminal group.
“For now, we do not want to reveal (the names) of any gangs.”
He said the suspects had a total of 80 criminal records and 34 drug-related records.
“Police are on the hunt for several suspects believed to be still at large. We are looking for six other ‘targets’ that can aid our investigation,” he added.
He said the police were investigating the case under Section 130V of the Penal Code for membership in an organised criminal group, as well as the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 in relation to the groups’ funding, illegal proceeds and possible financial streams.
Separately, Khalid said more raids might take place in several states after police crippled a drug syndicate and seized 3,586kg of ecstasy worth RM598.9 million in raids across the Klang Valley on Sept 10.
He said the Malaysian police were also sharing information with their Thai counterparts to identify those linked to the Malaysian man arrested in Sadao, Thailand, on Aug 31 with two assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
According to previous reports, the 46-year-old suspect was found at a police roadblock with two assault rifles, 300 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition, seven 5.56mm magazines, 100 rounds of .45 calibre bullets and 50 rounds of 9mm bullets in his Malaysia-registered Kia.