KUALA LUMPUR: Police here have crippled an organised crime network which was active for at least nine years with the arrest of 24 men.

       City police chief Comm Datuk Azmi Abu Kassim said the City CID launched a major operation this month with its main objective to eradicate organised crime active in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley.

       "Based on our intelligence and investigations, we identified a group which was led by a 47-year-old man, known to his men as Sakai,” said Comm Azmi.

       He added that the group was involved in various criminal activities such as murder, firearms possession, violent crimes, and gangsterism before they ventured into drug trafficking.

       He said on Sunday (June 20), City CID together with Bukit Aman Special Branch and other police elements launched a series of operations in Melaka, Negri Sembilan, Perak, Terengganu and Kuala Lumpur and arrested 24 suspects aged between 14 and 47.

       "The group leader - believed to be Sakai - was among those arrested. We detained 18 of them under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act, while six others are being investigated under the Dangerous Drugs Act," he said.

       Comm Azmi said police also seized five luxury cars, 318g of syabu and 445g of heroin, as well as RM21,665 in cash.

       He said police are now looking for seven men to help with further investigations.