SEVERAL senior officers of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) are under investigation by the country’s anti-corruption agency in connection with a wide-ranging smuggling syndicate believed to have operated for years in the southern region of the country.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is focusing its investigation on alleged corruption, abuse of power, and money laundering, following intelligence-led raids under ‘Op Sohor’, which has so far seen the arrest of five military officers and five civilians.
“This investigation is centred on proving elements of corruption, abuse of power, and money laundering,” said MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki at a press briefing during an MACC roundtable in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday.
“They were supposed to safeguard national security and share information with other enforcement agencies. If it is true that they leaked operational details, this could seriously compromise enforcement efforts,” he added.
The MACC believes the syndicate’s activities spanned locations from the Strait of Malacca down to Johor, with officers suspected of providing sensitive military information to criminal networks.
Two of the arrested military personnel are former officers, and all are alleged to have received bribes of between RM30,000 and RM50,000 per smuggling operation. Authorities estimate the syndicate moved contraband—ranging from narcotics and illicit cigarettes to other restricted items—worth up to RM5 million monthly.
Azam also confirmed that several of those detained are suspected drug traffickers.
“We were informed that there were significant drug seizures, and that these individuals were acting as drug distributors,” he said, noting that the Royal Malaysia Police Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (JSJN) had taken action as well.
JSJN Director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan, who was also present at the briefing, reported the seizure of various narcotics—including MDMA powder and liquid, cannabis, ketamine, and ecstasy—with an estimated value of RM30,000.
Investigators also uncovered cash exceeding RM63,000, weighing scales, liquor, and replica firearms during coordinated raids in the Klang Valley.
The MACC is now seeking further information from the Ministry of Defence (Mindef), with Azam revealing that both current and former intelligence officers from the army and navy are implicated. “The Chief of Defence Forces has given his support for our investigation. We will not allow them to walk away with dirty money,” he said.
He confirmed that the MACC will intensify investigations and summon relevant witnesses. The case is being investigated under Section 16(a)(B) of the MACC Act 2009. - August 14, 2025
