Kota bharu: A significant increase in several categories of commercial crime, including e-commerce fraud and online part-time job scams, were recorded in Kelantan in the first nine months of this year. State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat highlighted the sharp rise in e-commerce fraud cases, which reached 310 cases resulting in losses of RM2.34 million from January to September, compared to 154 cases with losses of RM1.34 million during the same period last year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, online part-time job offer fraud also saw a substantial increase from 66 cases with RM1.45 million in losses last year to 165 cases totaling RM3.43 million this year. Other cybercrimes exhibited a similar upward trend, escalating from 189 cases with losses of RM4.14 million in 2024 to 344 cases amounting to RM6.90 million this year.
Mohd Yusoff emphasized that the rise in cases demonstrated the ongoing threat of commercial crime, which has become increasingly complex due to the emergence of new modus operandi. He assured that the police would continue to enhance preventive strategies, intelligence efforts, and inter-agency cooperation to combat cybercrime and protect the economic well-being of the people.
In contrast, narcotics crime statistics reflected a decrease, with 20,476 cases recorded between January and September this year, a four percent drop from 21,252 cases during the same period last year. The number of narcotics offenders arrested also decreased by five percent, from 22,692 people in 2024 to 21,564 people this year. However, the value of drug seizures rose significantly by 69 percent, from RM14.72 million last year to RM24.83 million this year.
Mohd Yusoff stated that the figures represented more than just numbers, as they highlighted the effectiveness of ongoing prevention and enforcement efforts by officers and personnel. He reiterated the police’s strong commitment to combating the drug menace, which he termed the country’s number one enemy.
On the topic of violent crimes, Mohd Yusoff noted an increasing trend that required close attention. Murder cases increased by two (100 percent), rape cases rose by 17 (14.9 percent), robberies without firearms increased by one (2.4 percent), and cases involving causing injury went up by 16 (13.6 percent). He urged every officer and member to remain proactive, vigilant, and efficient in confronting these increasingly complex security challenges.