Penang police smash three international scam syndicates, 32 arrested in Bukit Mertajam raids
Source: Penang Today
Penang police dismantled three international scam syndicates operating as call centres in Bukit Mertajam, arresting 32 individuals including four Malaysians in a series of raids on 3 June 2026.
The Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) carried out the operations across three locations, seizing equipment worth an estimated RM123,000.
Penang Police Chief Datuk Azizee Ismail said the raids targeted love scam, cryptocurrency fraud, and phone impersonation rings that had been preying on victims across Malaysia, China, Taiwan, and Japan.
In the first raid at Taman Pinggiran Bukit Minyak, police arrested 10 foreign nationals — eight Chinese men, one Chinese woman, and one Taiwanese man — for running a love scam since January 2026. Officers seized 16 computers, 23 mobile phones, four WiFi routers, and scam scripts. The syndicate’s estimated losses to victims stood at RM78,000.
The second operation netted 15 suspects involved in a USDT cryptocurrency exchange scam targeting Taiwanese victims. The group included six Taiwanese men, one Taiwanese woman, two Vietnamese men, two Vietnamese women, and four local Malaysian men. Police confiscated 28 computers, 21 mobile phones, and one WiFi router. Estimated losses totalled RM25,000.
A third syndicate posed as Japanese police officers to defraud victims in Japan and Taiwan. Seven foreign nationals — five Japanese men and two Taiwanese men — were arrested. Officers recovered mobile phones, laptops, iPads, Osaka Police uniforms, fake authority cards, police badges, and satellite communication equipment. Estimated losses reached RM20,000.
“The operation, conducted by the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID)… led to the seizure of various equipment used by the syndicates, valued at an estimated RM123,000,” Datuk Azizee said.
All cases are being investigated under Section 420 (Cheating) and Section 120B (Criminal Conspiracy) of the Penal Code. The suspects face remand applications in court.
Source: Malay Mail
