A TRANSBORDER syndicate involved in the trafficking of people, drugs and arms may be responsible for Pastor Raymond Koh’s abduction, said Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar.

He said the information and suspicion were based on statements recorded from three syndicate members arrested in a special operation in Perak on June 17.

“We suspect this based on the interrogation carried out on the suspects arrested in the operation,” said Khalid at Bukit Aman this morning, more than five months after Koh was abducted while driving in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

He said investigations also revealed that the syndicate had links to groups in southern Thailand.

On whether the groups comprised Islamist separatists, the IGP declined to comment.

He told The Malaysian Insight to wait for updates and the outcome of communications with Thai authorities.

He also told reporters that it could not be ascertained if Koh was alive or dead.

The syndicate’s mastermind was killed in the June 17 operation, carried out by the Perak Serious Crimes Unit and Special Task Force on Organised Crime, after he opened fire with a 9mm Norinco pistol.

Police seized 40g of heroin and two licence plates from the suspect’s Toyota Vios.

They arrested the suspect’s Thai wife at a house in Kampung Selarong, Pengkalan Hulu, and seized a pipe bomb, 250g of syabu, a cache of bullets, and photos of the pastor, his house and vehicles, as well as a ST5515D licence plate.

Also arrested were syndicate members, in their 30s and 60s, in a follow-up operation. – July 25, 2017.

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