Car theft syndicate member detained

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Police detained a man believed to be a member of a car theft syndicate at Jalan Bukit Teh, Machang Bubok here yesterday.
Seberang Perai Tengah District police chief, ACP Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said the man was picked up in an operation dubbed, 'Ops Pencegahan Jenayah' around 3pm.
"Further inspection revealed that the 40-year-old suspect from Kulim, Kedah was driving a Perodua Bezza that had been recently reported missing in George Town. He was believed to have just stolen the vehicle and was on the way to send it to a syndicate member," he said here today.
Nik Ros Azhan said the syndicate was believed to have used a house in the Bukit Mertajam area as a transit store for stolen vehicles before the registration numbers were changed and the vehicles sold at a cheaper price.
Following the arrest of the unemployed suspect, several other syndicate members were identified and efforts are underway to track them.
He said the syndicate which was believed to have started operations early this year targetted on new vehicles which were in high demand.
"The suspect who had six previous criminal records was remanded for five days to facilitate investigations. Further investigation is still underway," noted Nik Ros Azhan.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, he said five men, aged between 30 and 54, were caught red-handed taking drugs in a raid on a house in Permatang Rawa that was owned by one of the suspects, at 1.45am yesterday.
In the raid that was made following a public tip-off and intelligence work, RM1,000 worth of Methamphetamine and various drug paraphernalia were seized. All of the suspects who tested positive for drugs were remanded for further investigation.
"Investigation also revealed that the house had been turned into their drug den several months ago. Four of the suspects had previous criminal records involving drugs and crime," he said. — Bernama