Kuala lumpur: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has sent a dedicated team to Islamabad, Pakistan, to investigate the detention of several Malaysians allegedly involved in an online scam syndicate. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail announced that the exact number of Malaysians detained remains unconfirmed as the investigation is still in its initial phase.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Inspector-General Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail stated that coordinated action is necessary, not just at the police level but also between governments, following briefings from the Home Minister. He made these comments during a ceremony for the handover of All-Terrain Tactical Assault E-bikes (ATEB).

Present at the ceremony was Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, Director of the Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department (KDNKA). Mohd Khalid emphasized that PDRM is working closely with Pakistani authorities to trace the network involved in these scams.

Reports from international media yesterday highlighted that Pakistani authorities arrested 258 foreign nationals in a raid on a scam call centre located in the Gulberg Green residential area near Islamabad. Among those detained were 40 Chinese, 170 Vietnamese, Malaysians, and other Asian nationals.

Mohd Khalid also pointed out a trend where online scam activities are increasingly being operated by foreign nationals, especially those from China. He mentioned that the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) in Cyberjaya handles over 500 calls daily from victims, with each complaint leading to a police report for the Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) to take swift action.

He highlighted the seriousness of the issue, noting that 182 foreign nationals were arrested last month in an attempt to establish Malaysia as a hub for online scam operations.