Mamak Gang
Encyclopedia
The Mamak Gang is a notorious Malaysian gang
that has been active since the early 1990s. Originally they specialised in breaking into factories
and warehouse
s, but eventually they switched to mainly carjacking
s and robbing
motorists. The gang is most notorious for stealing M$
12 million worth of gold
bars from the Malaysia Airlines
cargo complex at the former Subang Airport on Merdeka Day 1994 (31 August 1994). Although its key members were rounded up by the police several times and sentenced to either preventive detention or banished to remote areas of the country, they managed to run their "criminal empire" from detention by using mobile phones and courier
s to deliver instructions for them. The gang's crime spree came to an end in December 2006 when Selangor
police arrested the last three members of the gang still at large.
Gang
A gang is a group of people who, through the organization, formation, and establishment of an assemblage, share a common identity. In current usage it typically denotes a criminal organization or else a criminal affiliation. In early usage, the word gang referred to a group of workmen...
that has been active since the early 1990s. Originally they specialised in breaking into factories
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
and warehouse
Warehouse
A warehouse is a commercial building for storage of goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial areas of cities and towns. They usually have loading docks to load and unload...
s, but eventually they switched to mainly carjacking
Carjacking
Carjacking is a form of hijacking, where the crime is of stealing a motor vehicle and so also armed assault when the vehicle is occupied. Historically, such as in the rash of semi-trailer truck hijackings during the 1960s, the general term hijacking was used for that type of vehicle abduction,...
s and robbing
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
motorists. The gang is most notorious for stealing M$
Ringgit
Ringgit mostly refers to the Malaysian ringgit, which is the local currency in Malaysia, but it can also refer to the Brunei dollar or Singapore dollar in the Malay language. The word ringgit was originally used to refer to the serrated edges of Spanish silver dollars widely circulated in the area...
12 million worth of gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
bars from the Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysian Airline System Berhad , DBA Malaysia Airlines , is the government-owned flag carrier of Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operates flights from its home base, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and its eastern hub in Kota Kinabalu. It has its headquarters on the grounds of Sultan Abdul Aziz...
cargo complex at the former Subang Airport on Merdeka Day 1994 (31 August 1994). Although its key members were rounded up by the police several times and sentenced to either preventive detention or banished to remote areas of the country, they managed to run their "criminal empire" from detention by using mobile phones and courier
Courier
A courier is a person or a company who delivers messages, packages, and mail. Couriers are distinguished from ordinary mail services by features such as speed, security, tracking, signature, specialization and individualization of express services, and swift delivery times, which are optional for...
s to deliver instructions for them. The gang's crime spree came to an end in December 2006 when Selangor
Selangor
Selangor also known by its Arabic honorific, Darul Ehsan, or "Abode of Sincerity") is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. It is on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west...
police arrested the last three members of the gang still at large.