2,097 police personnel arrested for drugs, robbery, corruption since 2021

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 2,097 police personnel and officers were arrested for drug, robbery and corruption offences from 2021 to August this year.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said of these, 1,551 were arrested for drug offences, 64 for robbery and 482 by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

In a written parliamentary reply to Lim Lip Eng (PH-Kepong), who asked for the number of police personnel arrested for the offences since 2021, Saifuddin provided a yearly breakdown.

Of the drug-related arrests under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, 357 were recorded in 2021, 248 in 2022, 245 in 2023, 310 in 2024, 256 in 2025 and 135 from January to August this year.

Robbery arrests totalled 64, comprising 10 each in 2021 and 2022, 11 in 2023, 13 in 2024, 10 in 2025 and 10 in the first eight months of this year.

The MACC arrested 482 police personnel over the same period: 77 in 2021, 86 in 2022, 129 in 2023, 53 in 2024, 87 in 2025 and 50 from January to August this year.

Lim also sought an update on the investigation into 12 policemen suspected of robbing a group of foreigners of about RM200,000 in cryptocurrency at Country Heights, Kajang, in February.

Saifuddin said police had opened an investigation paper into the Feb 5 incident and were investigating it under Section 395 of the Penal Code.

The 12 policemen, including four from Bukit Aman's Commercial Crime Investigation Department, were arrested after a Chinese national lodged a report over a raid on a rented bungalow in Country Heights on Feb 5.

Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the policemen had been assigned desk duties to ensure the investigation could proceed properly.

The victims' lawyer had questioned the lack of updates on the investigation and said he would write to the investigating officer and the Attorney-General's Chambers.