Latest news with #M.Kumar
The Sun
14 hours ago
- The Sun
Johor police rescue teens from online sex scam syndicate
JOHOR BAHRU: Police rescued a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl who were allegedly sexually abused and forced into an online sex fraud and extortion syndicate. The operation, named Op Bugil, was conducted in Johor Bahru and Kulai between June 20 and July 1. Johor Police Chief Datuk M. Kumar confirmed another victim, a 26-year-old man, was also rescued. Nine suspects, including two women, were arrested in connection with the case. Investigations revealed the syndicate had been active since November last year, recruiting locals—including minors—as scammers with monthly salaries ranging from RM2,200 to RM4,000. Some were promised overseas jobs in countries like Laos with higher pay of around USD2,500. Kumar stated that the victims were coerced into online sex scams, with fake social media accounts created for extortion. 'They were locked up, forced to eat chilli, sexually abused, and stripped naked. These acts were recorded for blackmail,' he said during a press conference. Victims were reportedly forced to work 12-hour shifts with only one day off every two weeks. They were confined to their workplace, with their identity cards and mobile phones confiscated. The syndicate's modus operandi involved using women to lure victims into obscene video calls on social media. Once victims clicked on a provided link, their phones were hacked, granting the syndicate access to contacts and photos. Victims were then blackmailed with threats of releasing compromising videos unless they paid. Authorities seized 27 mobile phones, personal documents, plane tickets, currency receipts, cash, a laptop, 49 SIM cards, employment records, and vehicles during the operation. Investigations are ongoing. - Bernama
The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
RM3.55 million drugs seized in Johor, three arrested including Vietnamese women
JOHOR BAHRU: Police seized drugs worth RM3.55 million and arrested three individuals, including two Vietnamese women, in a series of raids conducted on July 10 and 11. The suspects, aged between 32 and 39, were detained in operations led by the Johor Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and Johor Bahru Selatan district police. Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar revealed that the syndicate had been active since April last year, using guarded residences to store and process drugs before distributing them locally. The breakthrough came after the arrest of a local man, which led police to a rented shophouse room and three luxury condominium units. 'The suspect also led the police to conduct raids at three luxury condominium units, also rented by him, where more drugs were seized and two Vietnamese women were arrested,' Kumar said during a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters. Authorities confiscated 20.7 kg of suspected ecstasy powder, 18.49 kg of marijuana, 154.25 grams of ketamine, and 141 grams of erimin 5 pills. Drug processing equipment and RM800 in cash were also seized. Kumar noted a shift in trafficking trends toward marijuana flowers, which have a higher hallucinogenic effect and market value of RM36,000 per kilogramme. All suspects tested positive for methamphetamine and are remanded until July 17. The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. - Bernama
Barnama
15 hours ago
- Barnama
Teen Victims Rescued From Online Sex Scam Syndicate In Johor
JOHOR BAHRU, July 14 (Bernama) -- Police rescued a 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl believed to have been sexually abused and forced to work as members of an online sex fraud and extortion syndicate through an operation dubbed Op Bugil carried out here and in Kulai from June 20 to July 1. Johor Police Chief Datuk M. Kumar said another victim, a 26-year-old man, was also rescued. He said nine suspects, two of whom were women, were arrested. According to Kumar, investigations found that the syndicate had been operating since November last year, recruiting locals, including minors, as scammers with salaries ranging from RM2,200 to RM4,000 per month. He said the syndicate also offers them to work abroad, including in Laos, with a more lucrative salary of around USD2,500. 'The victims were recruited for an online sex fraud with the syndicate creating fake social media accounts for extortion purposes. They were locked up, forced to eat chilli and sexually abused, including being stripped naked, and all these actions were recorded for the purpose of extortion,' he told a press conference here today. Kumar said the victims were forced to work 12 hours a day with only one day off after two weeks, and had to sleep at work and were prohibited from leaving except on designated holidays, while their identity cards and mobile phones were taken from them. Meanwhile, Kumar said the syndicate carried out their fraudulent activities by using women to lure the victim to make obscene video calls on social media and then hacked the victim's mobile phone after clicking on the link provided. 'This syndicate would send a link to the victim's mobile phone, and when the victim clicked on it, the syndicate could access the contact list and photo gallery on the mobile phone. The syndicate then threatened to distribute pornographic video recordings of the victim if the victim refused to pay them,' he said.
Barnama
16 hours ago
- Barnama
Drugs Worth RM3.55 Million Seized, Two Vietnamese Women Among Three Arrested
JOHOR BAHRU, July 14 (Bernama) -- Police seized various types of drugs worth RM3.55 million and arrested a local man and two Vietnamese women in special operations conducted on July 10 and 11. Johor police chief Datuk M. Kumar said the three suspects, aged between 32 and 39, were arrested during separate raids conducted by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department of the state police and the Johor Baru Selatan district police. He said the syndicate, which is believed to be active since April last year, used gated and guarded residences to store and process the drugs before distributing them to the local market. According to him, the drugs were seized following the arrest of the local man by a roadside, which then led the police to raid a rented room in a shophouse here. "The suspect also led the police to conduct raids at three luxury condominium units, also rented by him, where more drugs were seized and two Vietnamese women were arrested," he told a press conference at the Johor Police Contingent Headquarters, here today He said that in total, the police seized 20.7 kilogrammes (kg) of powder, suspected to be ecstasy, 18.49 kg of marijuana, 154.25 grams of ketamine and 141 grams of erimin 5 pills, as well as various equipment for processing and repackaging drugs, as well as RM800 in cash. He said the current drug trafficking trend also appears to be shifting towards marijuana flowers, based on recent seizures. ''This may be because marijuana flowers have a higher hallucinogenic effect due to their purity, besides being more expensive, with an estimated market value of RM36,000 per kilogramme," he said. Kumar said all the suspects, who tested positive for methamphetamine, were on remand until July 17, and the case was being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
The Star
18 hours ago
- The Star
Teens among victims rescued in police raids on scam gang, nine arrested
JOHOR BARU: A pair of teenagers were among three persons, believed to be victims of a scam syndicate's forced labour and sexual exploitation, rescued in a series of raids here. Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said nine syndicate members comprising seven women and two men aged between 17 and 50 were arrested during Ops Bugil, which was carried out in Kulai and Johor Baru between June 20 and July 1. 'The syndicate has been active since Nov 2024, operating scams by creating fake social media accounts and impersonating attractive women to lure victims into performing sexual acts over video calls. 'At the same time, they would send phishing links to hack victims' mobile phones, then use the explicit recordings to blackmail them, demanding money in stages,' he said at a press conference at the Johor police headquarters on Monday (July 14). He added that victims, gripped by fear and emotional distress, would comply with the syndicate's demands by transferring money into bank accounts provided by the group. 'The syndicate also recruited underage local workers to work as scammers, offering them monthly salaries between RM2,200 and RM4,000. 'At the initial stage, the victims were trained and assigned to carry out scams locally. Once they became more skilled, they were offered jobs abroad with higher pay around USD2,500 (RM10,637),' he said. The victims, aged between 15 and 26, were recruited to conduct online sex scams using fake social media accounts to extort money from unsuspecting individuals. 'They were forced to work 12 hours a day, allowed only one day off every two weeks and required to sleep at the workplace. They were not permitted to leave except on designated days off. 'Their identification cards and mobile phones were confiscated. 'Those who refused to work were physically abused, including being beaten, forced to eat chilli and sexually assaulted. These acts were recorded and used to further blackmail the victims,' he said. He stressed the victims were also threatened with a RM30,000 penalty if they attempted to quit and were warned against filing police reports. 'Various items were seized, including 27 mobile phones, personal identification documents, flight tickets, money exchange receipts and mixed currencies totalling RM140 along with 1,822 Yuan and 4,370 Baht in cash. 'Also confiscated were a laptop, 49 SIM cards, a Wi-Fi modem, job-related notebooks and a car with its remote control,' he said. He added that seven out of the nine suspects will be charged at the Johor Baru Magistrate's Court, Sessions Court, and the Kulai Magistrate's Court on Tuesday (July 15). He urged the public not to be easily lured by high-paying job offers, especially those circulated on social media and to always verify the background of any company before accepting such opportunities. 'The public is also advised not to fall for attractive female profiles on social media, as syndicates use fake accounts to send phishing links that steal data from mobile phones before extorting the victims. 'We remain fully committed and will not compromise with any party involved in such crimes, as they threaten national security and public order,' he added. Comm Datuk Kumar said any information related to such crimes can be channelled to the Johor police hotline at 019-2792095 or the district operations room at 07-2212999.
