Police arrest Rames gang leader, suspected mastermind of organised crime in Kedah

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 — Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has dismantled an organised crime network in Kedah following the arrest of the leader of the Rames Gang, who had been a fugitive, in a recent special operation.

The suspect, believed to be the mastermind of the group and active in violent crimes in the Sungai Petani area, was arrested on May 22 under Op Tiga by the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department.

Datuk M. Kumar, Bukit Aman CID director, said the arrest was carried out based on a warrant issued by the Sungai Petani Magistrate’s Court on March 25 and a Red Notice issued by Interpol on April 24.

He said the suspect was successfully detained through close cooperation between PDRM and authorities in India and Thailand while he was on a flight from Bangkok to Hyderabad before being brought back to Malaysia.

Initial investigations indicated that the Rames Gang is believed to comprise at least 35 members under the local suspect’s leadership.

The group was also found to be involved in serious crimes including robbery, causing grievous hurt, murder, drug trafficking, and extortion activities around Sungai Petani.

Kumar said the suspect has been remanded until May 29 to assist investigations under Section 130V of the Penal Code for involvement in an organised crime group, which carries a jail term of between five and 20 years upon conviction.

He added that the suspect is also being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder involving two separate cases in Padang Serai and Bedong, Kedah in February and August 2024.

PDRM extended its appreciation to the Indian and Thai authorities for their international cooperation in facilitating the arrest. — Bernama