Cops bust vehicle cloning syndicate, nab 12

2026-03-18 - 06:11

Bukit Aman CID director M Kumar said police seized 12 vehicles worth an estimated total of RM1.1 million, including various Toyota models, Honda City cars, and Mazda vehicles. KUALA LUMPUR: Police have busted a vehicle cloning and theft syndicate in an operation that saw the arrest of 12 people, including two women. The suspects, aged between 33 and 60, were detained by Bukit Aman’s criminal investigation department (CID) between March 12 and 15, and have been released on bail pending further investigations. Bukit Aman CID director M Kumar said the operation followed about five months of intelligence gathering on a syndicate specialising in cloning vehicle identities and reselling cars. “One of the suspects is also wanted by Singaporean authorities in connection with a vehicle theft case and has been handed over for further investigation,” he said at the police training centre here today. Kumar said police seized 12 vehicles worth an estimated total of RM1.1 million, including various Toyota models, Honda City cars, and Mazda vehicles. Of these, eight had their identities tampered with, while four were confirmed stolen from Singapore. Kumar said forensic examinations found that the chassis and engine numbers of the cloned vehicles had been altered, some to the extent that their original identities could not be determined. He said the syndicate used stolen vehicles or those declared as total losses. “These vehicles appear legitimate even upon inspection and are sometimes sold through seemingly authorised dealers,” he said. Further checks found that some of the cloned vehicles had valid road transport department documents. The case is being investigated under Section 379A of the Penal Code for vehicle theft, which provides for up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine upon conviction. Police said investigations are ongoing to identify other syndicate members, including those involved in stealing vehicles and falsifying documentation. They also advised the public to exercise caution when purchasing vehicles, especially those sold at low prices, and to ensure that proper checks are conducted. Owners of vehicles declared as total losses have also been urged to notify the authorities to prevent the misuse of their identities.