Police have dismantled the ‘Geng Lakino Garuda’ syndicate, believed to be behind a series of solar cable and telecommunications component thefts, following the arrest of nine men in multiple raids conducted between 27 June and 17 July.
Acting Pahang police chief Datuk Azry Akmar Ayob said the suspects, aged between 26 and 52, comprise four Malaysians and five foreign nationals. They were arrested during operations carried out in Pahang, Shah Alam and Sepang.
Preliminary investigations found that six of the suspects were directly involved in stealing solar cables and telecommunications equipment, while the remaining three acted as buyers of the stolen items.
“Two of the suspects have previous criminal and drug-related records.
“Urine screening tests also found that seven of them tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine,” he told a press conference on Thursday.
Police also seized various items worth an estimated RM500,000, including a lorry, a four-wheel-drive vehicle, electronic chips of various sizes, rolls of cable, machetes and nine mobile phones.
All nine suspects have been remanded to assist investigations under Section 379 and Section 411 of the Penal Code.
Azry Akmar said the operation was launched following 21 reported cases of solar cable and telecommunications component theft in Perak, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu between February and June.
The thefts involved approximately 98,000 metres of solar cable and telecommunications components, with total losses estimated at RM912,000.
Police are still tracking two Malaysian men believed to be involved in the syndicate, who remain at large.
