Five senior ATM officers, two journalists among those remanded by MACC linked to smuggling activities

MACC has remanded 10 individuals including five senior Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) officers, two online media journalists, a company manager and an administrative assistant at the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) as well as a foreign woman on suspicion of involvement in a smuggling syndicate operating in the south of the country.

Four male suspects were remanded for seven days until 20 August 2025, two men and a woman were remanded for two days until 18 August 2025, while two Indonesian men and a woman were remanded for three days until 15 August 2025.

The remand order was issued by Magistrate Irza Zulaikha Rohanuddin after an application was made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission at the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court, this morning.

According to sources, the five senior military officers and five civilians aged between 30 and 55 were arrested around the Klang Valley through Op Sohor conducted by the MACC Intelligence Division in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) on Wednesday.

"The senior military intelligence officers are believed to have conspired and leaked operational information to the smuggling syndicate to prevent the syndicate from being taken action.

"The contraband brought into this country consists of drugs, cigarettes and other goods from neighbouring countries involving the value of contraband goods of approximately RM5 million per month," sources said.

Sources said that intelligence conducted over 12 months found that the syndicate was believed to pay bribes of between RM30,000 and RM50,000 to senior military officers each time they smuggled in the goods and that the network of involvement of the senior military officers involved in the syndicate was large and complex.

The source said that in the operation on Wednesday, the MACC also found a total of more than RM63,000 in cash, several packages believed to be drugs, weighing and measuring instruments, liquor and imitation firearms.

Meanwhile, MACC Senior Director of Intelligence Division, Datuk Saiful Ezral Arifin, when contacted, confirmed the arrest and said the case was being investigated for corruption and money laundering. – August 14, 2025