Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said the criminal investigation department (CID) had carried out 168 investigations into Ah Long activities, including 123 cases of splashing paint and 45 cases of hurling Molotov cocktails.

The department arrested 45 individuals from 12 Ah Long syndicates, and 33 of them were placed under Poca – seven detained and 26 placed under surveillance orders.

On a separate matter, Ayob Khan said the Johor D7 division and Batu Pahat CID conducted raids at two premises in Bukit Pasir and Taman Banang, Batu Pahat, on Sept 6.

They arrested four Malaysians aged between 23 and 36 for allegedly being involved in an illegal loan syndicate.

Three of them had criminal records for gambling and involvement in Ah Long syndicates.

Police also seized about 100 phone cards, 21 mobile phones, 18 ATM cards, five laptops and six pen drives.