Ill-gotten gains from the crimes of two gangs.
The Criminal Investigation Department at Bukit Aman has seized at least RM40 million in cash and assets as a result of its efforts against organised crime.
The bulk of the seizures came from Geng 360 Devan in Selangor, which was heavily involved in smuggling and drug dealing.
Seizures also came from Geng 24 from Penang, which was tied to murder, firearms possession, smuggling, drug dealing, robbery, extortion and kidnapping.
Federal Criminal Investigation Department deputy director (intelligence/operations) Datuk Huzir Mohamed said each seizure of assets came under the purview of the Anti-Money Laundering Act.
“The seizures were done to enable the police to carry out preventive measures against these groups, which use the earnings from these activities to fund crimes and violence.
“When they have no more assets due to the seizures, their actions and movements are severely crippled,” he told the New Straits Times recently.
Huzir said most feuds between senior gang leaders – some of which had led to bloodshed – were sparked by power struggle.
“The aim is to grab the lion’s share of the loot, and this is dependent on one’s hierarchy within the organisation.
“The higher your rank is, the bigger the payoff.”
He believed that once a gang’s assets were seized, it would limit efforts to enlist new recruits due to cash-flow problems.
The arrest of its leaders, he said, usually spelt the end of such groups.