#OpsCantas: Guns, Swords, Hand Grenades & More Seized
In a serious effort to curb the rising violent crime that has plagued the nation, police has launched a major operation, codenamed "Ops Cantas", to restore the nation to safety.
23 Sept: Ops Cantas phase 3 will commence soon
Phase 1 of the operations was targeted at tracking and seizing weapons, especially guns, from gang members. The current Phase 2 involves cracking down on members of the 49 gangster organisations that have been declared illegal.
thestar.com.myPhase 3, on the other hand will see police going after the underworld kingpins and seizing their assets. This phase is expected to begin soon.
thestar.com.my23 Sept: There has been a 90% drop in robbery and firearms since the launch of Ops Cantas
There has been a more than 90% drop in robbery with firearms in the country since Ops Cantas Khas was launched, say police.
thestar.com.myBukit Aman’s principal assistant director of the Secret Societies, Vice and Gambling Division (D7) Senior Asst Comm Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan, there has been a decrease in crime across the board since the launch of the operations on Aug 17.
malaysiandigest.com“In the last 36 days (from Aug 17 to Sept 22), serious crime has gone down by 12.48% with murder cases lowered by 33.78%, gang robbery decreased by 23.58% and robbery dipped by 26% compared to the similar number of days between July 12 and Aug 16.
malaysiandigest.com“We also arrested 10,695 people for various offences, including extortion, armed robbery, vehicle theft and involvement in secret societies,” he said, adding that so far, police had screened 267,496 people and 158,556 vehicles.
thestar.com.myHe said that on Saturday alone, police checked 16,951 people and 7,872 vehicles, resulting in the arrest of 407 people.
thestar.com.my17 Sept: Ops Cantas Khas have arrested approximately 8,125 criminals in a month with 48% Malays detained
A total of 8,125 criminals were arrested nationwide through the police's Ops Cantas Khas up to yesterday since it started Aug 17.
nst.com.myPolice indicated that since the operations began, gang members have been lying low and have crossed the Malaysian border to have their gang tattoos redesigned.
msn.comAccording to The Star, the police said that 48% of those detained are Malays, 23% Chinese, 22.4% Indians and 6.6% from other nationalities or ethnic groups. Out of the 8,125 suspected gang members, 42.6% are Malays, followed by Indians (28.8%), Chinese (12.5%) and others (16.1%).
themalaysianinsider.com"In terms of weapons, 23 firearms were seized, also 10 homemade air guns, a hand grenade, 1,232 bullets and 11 bullet slugs. There were also 280 other weapons, including a stun gun, three fake guns, 25 swords, 88 knives, 81 parangs, seven axes, 16 sharpened iron rods, 12 hammers, 26 iron knuckles, eight kerambit, four long wooden sticks, three adjustable spanners, two batons and a short sword with holster," Jalil added.
nst.com.myEarlier, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar denied allegations that Ops Cantas Khas was targeted at Indians.
nst.com.myWATCH: Police getting tough on criminals with Ops Cantas
27 August: Penangites feel more fear with police patrolling in "terrifying-looking" gear
Imagine some 15 to 20 policemen including heavily armed special squad personnel appearing from nowhere on the premises late in the evening. This caused unnecessary fear among patrons including tourists, many of whom were regulars.
malaysiandigest.comThe general manager of one of the raided pubs said he feared his business would be affected as customers were not used to seeing the place being ambushed by police wearing the “terrifying-looking” gear.
themalaymailonline.com“As soon as those riot police look-alike entered the premises many of my customers were seen getting up to leave.
“Many were heard complaining the raid disrupted their mood,” he said.
malaysiandigest.com“It is not wrong for police to carry spot checks but when they turn up in that sort of gear, they surely create fear especially among tourists. It looked as if they were looking for a bomb in my place,” he said.
themalaymailonline.com27 August: 71 nabbed and 8 dangerous weapons confiscated in Kota Kinabalu
Police have detained 73 people for numerous offences during the ongoing Ops Cantas in Sabah, said State Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib. They also seized eight dangerous weapons during the operation since August 17.
theborneopost.com26 August: Narcotics police have arrested 1,911 people
Some 1,911 people have been arrested by Narcotics CID of Bukit Aman in an Ops Cantas Narcotik nationwide over three days from last Friday.
malaysiakini.comIts director Datuk Noor Rashid Ibrahim said 1,772 cases were opened, including 26 cases under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act. They arrested 30 triad members from Geng 04, Geng 08, Geng 555, Geng Raj and Geng 18 believed to be involved in drug trafficking.
abnxcess.com25 August: 16 arrested in Penang for extortion, burglary and causing hurt
Police have intensified its crackdown on gangsterism in Penang with the arrest of 16 people on the wanted list during the ' Ops Cantas'. "We have detained them for investigations on alleged involvement in extortion, robbery, house burglary and causing hurt to others.
nst.com.myThe suspects, in their 20s and 40s, were picked up during raids at 44 houses in an eight-hour operation which ended about 4am. During the same operation, the police also raided two night clubs in Komtar and Jalan Penang and detained three foreign nationals working without permit.
themalaymailonline.comDuring the week, Abd Rahim said police here also seized three pistols, six parang, five samurai swords, two rotan, one bamboo stick, seven Eramin pills, two cars, a penknife, one steel rod, an explosive device and 20 bullets.
thesundaily.my25 August: 159 arrested in Kelantan for firearms, ammunitions and drugs
A nine-day 'Ops Cantas' in Kelantan this month saw 159 people detained by the police for various crimes. Since the operation began, police have nabbed 28 suspects for offences involving firearms and ammunition while the rest were drug-related.
thestar.com.myKelantan police deputy chief Datuk Mazlan Lazim said a total of 798 people were screened in the operation. "We also seized eight cars out of the 635 vehicles screened, and seized 182 methampetamine pills in raids statewide," he said.
mysinchew.com21 August: PKR vice-president N Surendran says mass arrests under Ops Cantas is abuse of power
The Ops Cantas appears to be a "public relations exercise" by the police, resulting in mass "random arrests" under an "antiquated" law, PKR vice-president N Surendran told reporters.
kinitv.comThe lawyer added that by using the little known Prevention of Crime Act 1959, the authorities are "attempting to punish" those randomly picked up by holding them for more than 70 days without charge.
kinitv.com20 August: 683 people arrested in Selangor for possession of weapons, drugs and others
Selangor police have so far arrested 683 people in a special crime prevention operation dubbed Ops Cantas.
nst.com.myActing Selangor police chief Datuk A. Thaiveegan said of the total, 211 people aged between 17 and 40 would be remanded to enable further investigation on various criminal offenses, including possession of weapons and drugs, while the rest were released after having their statements taken.
nst.com.myEleven machetes, five knives, two batons, a fake pistol, various types of drugs, face masks and tools commonly used to break into houses have been seized in the operation so far. "We also seized seven cars and five motorcycles that were reported stolen," he said.
nst.com.myAmong those arrested were suspects on the wanted list and others thought to be planning to commit crimes. Thaiveegan said the police would continue with the operation to hunt down more hardcore criminals.
mmail.com.myA major operation to crackdown on rising violence, codenamed Ops Cantas, started nationwide on 19 August 2013
The special operation is code-named “Ops Cantas,” which means to cut off.
yahoo.comThe nationwide operation was initiated two weeks ago after a spate of gun violence and killings. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar reportedly said the operation will continue "until criminal activities are eliminated".
thesundaily.myIGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar: "Beginning Saturday, we started a major operation on drug trafficking hotspots, mounted road blocks and held spot checks at entertainment centres and 24-hour restaurants which were frequented by secret society groups."
astroawani.comRead also: Police formed two special elite squads of 400 officers to fight drug lords and manage public perception
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