KOTA BARU: Two men believed to be the leader and a member of the “Adik Mat” gang involved in armed robbery, criminal intimidation and drug trafficking have been killed in a shootout with the police at Kampung Batu Papan, Gua Musang.

       Kelantan police chief Datuk Shafien Mamat said the duo, aged 29 and 36, died at the scene.

       He said shooting broke out during a police raid at the gang’s hideout, a double-storey shack in a jungle near the village, at 11.30am on Monday.

       “Realising the presence of the police, the two suspects opened fire.

       “The police responded in defence and fired several shots that killed both men,” he said, according to Bernama.

       Upon searching the premises, police found two semi-automatic Llama pistols and a revolver with 41 live bullets, seven bullet shells and 1,200 psychotropic pills worth RM12,000 in the shack, he added.

       Shafien said initial investigations showed that the gang had been involved in several cases of armed robbery and criminal intimidation in the state over the past three years.

       “Some of the gang members have been arrested before. We believe only a few others are still at large.

       “With the death of their leader, we believe that we have defeated the ‘Adik Mat’ gang and solved between five and eight cases of armed robbery in the state with losses estimated at RM20,000,” he said.

       He added that the 29-year-old gang leader had a criminal record related to three robbery and nine drug cases.

       “The 36-year-old member also has a record related to four drug cases,” he said.