The Royal Malaysia Police had detained 11,036 individuals nationwide as of midnight yesterday under the Special Ops Cantas.

NONE Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar ( left ) said 47 of them were detained for investigation under the Prevention of Crime Act and those remaining for various other offences.

The police also seized 23 firearms, 14 home-made air rifles, a hand grenade, 1,238 rounds of ammunition and various other weapons, including machetes and knives, he told a media conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

The Special Ops Cantas was launched on Aug 17, following an increase in cases involving serious crimes, such as murder, robbery and rape.

Khalid said 304 secret society members had also been detained in the operation and they included 60 people from Geng 04, Geng 08 (110 people), Geng 18 (12 people) and Geng 36 (60 people).

He said police were now on the hunt for traffic offenders, especially drivers of commercial vehicles who had not paid their summonses.

"My advice is for them to check if they have not paid their summon arrears, do so fast because when we take over the Automatic Enforcement System (AES), it will be much easier for us to get them," he added.

Meanwhile, acting president of the Kuala Lumpur chapter of the Malaysian Malay Chambers Daud Daros congratulated the police for being able to reduce serious crime with the launch of Special Ops Cantas.

The action was effective in restoring the confidence of the business community, as well as that of the people, in the police, he said in a statement today.

- Bernama