The suspects, aged between 21 and 30 years, were arrested around Johor Bahru and Kluang in Johor from Sept 4-7.

Johor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad said police seized a car, motorcycle, phones, bottles of petrol and other equipment.

“The syndicate has been active since February, advertising loans via Facebook and TikTok. The loans would be credited directly into borrowers’ accounts even before they agreed on the terms and conditions.

“The victims were forced to repay their loans at high interest rates of 20% to 50%. If they failed to pay, the syndicate would threaten them, splash paint or commit arson,” Buletin TV3 reported him as saying today.

Ab Rahaman said the syndicate primarily targeted Malaysians working in Singapore, with transactions conducted via a bank account registered in the republic.

He said with the arrests, police have solved 34 cases, 18 of them in Johor Bahru, six in Kulai, three in Kluang, two in Pontian, two in Batu Pahat, two in Mersing and one in Kota Tinggi, all using the same modus operandi.

He also said 34 investigation papers were referred to the Johor prosecution director’s office, with orders received for prosecution.

Ab Rahaman said on Oct 1, seven investigation papers involving 14 charges had been prosecuted in the Johor Bahru court, while four papers with seven charges were prosecuted in the Kulai court on Oct 7.

“Another 19, involving 24 charges, will be prosecuted in stages throughout Johor Bahru, Kota Tinggi, Pontian, Mersing and Kluang,” he said.