GEORGE TOWN: Police detained 11 local men in Penang under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) yesterday for suspected involvement with organised crime in the state.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Penang deputy police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin stated that the suspects were apprehended in a series of raids commencing at 3.30 am during an operation known as Op Cantas Mutiara. The operation was executed by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Penang Contingent Police Headquarters, with support from Bukit Aman’s Organised Crime Division (B14) and Special Operations Division (D8).

The 11 suspects are believed to have been active since 2020. Mohd Alwi revealed that all of them have been placed under a 28-day remand until December 28 under Section 4 (5) of Sosma. The case is currently being investigated under Section 130V of the Penal Code.