SUNGAI BULOH: Nine men and a woman have been detained for involvement in a lorry theft syndicate.

       Selangor police chief Comm Datuk Arjunaidi Mohamed said the suspects, aged from 28 to 62, were arrested in an operation codenamed Ops Lejang in Negri Sembilan and Johor between April 5 and 10.

       “We conducted the raids at the Senawang toll plaza as well as two workshops in Tongkang Pecah and Jalan Parit Besar in Batu Pahat, Johor,” he told a press conference at the Sungai Buloh district police headquarters yesterday.

       Among the items seized were a lorry, 20 lorries that were partially dismantled, nine engine blocks and several lorry components, he said.

       “We believe the syndicate has been active since last year and that they are responsible for at least seven lorry thefts in Selangor, including four cases in Sungai Buloh,” he added.

       Comm Arjunaidi said one of the men arrested – a workshop owner in Batu Pahat – is believed to be the syndicate mastermind.

       “Initial investigations revealed that the person, aged 48, was responsible for hiring those who stole and dismantled the lorries.

       “He was held under the Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) and was released last year. We believe that he started the syndicate following his release,” he said.

       Each member of the syndicate has a specific role, Comm Arjunaidi said: “Some were assigned to steal the lorries. The lorries would then be handed over to middlemen who delivered them to the workshop.

       “They would be paid between RM3,000 and RM5,000 for each lorry delivered to the workshop.

       “At the workshop, other members will be tasked with dismantling the lorries for parts,” he said, adding that the parts would be sold to prospective customers in Johor.

       “We believe we have solved at least seven theft cases in Selangor. We will investigate whether the syndicate is responsible for other cases,” he said.