Police have broken up a syndicate of hired killers believed to be responsible for a series of murders, with the arrest of five men, including soldiers, reports said today.

The Sunday Star said police also siezed an assortment of firearms and a large cache of ammunition, believed to have been smuggled in from neighbouring countries, from the suspects after their arrests yesterday.

It quoted sources as saying that the suspects, including an army corporal, were believed members of a gang linked to last month's brutal killing of two loan sharks. The gang is also believed to be involved in armed robberies, illegal money lending and other crimes.

Officials from the Malaysian Chinese Association recently disclosed that thugs have started to advertise their services by circulating business cards, offering to "fix" someone for a fee.

It costs only RM300 (US$79) to bully someone, RM1,000 to "teach someone a lesson" and RM2,000 to cause grievous injury, they said.

Police have come under pressure to curb such activities, especially following an attack on a local journalist Thursday after his recent article on triad activities was believed to have angered gang members.