KUALA LUMPUR:  Graft busters will liaise with the Defence Ministry (Mindef) for further information on the five armed forces personnel arrested yesterday for allegedly masterminding a smuggling syndicate involving prohibited goods such as drugs, cigarettes, and other contraband items.

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the commission would be referring to Mindef for additional details on those involved, including a number of confidential reports.

"Based on our investigations, the five officers arrested were from the army and Royal Malaysian Navy.

"They were supposed to be responsible for collecting intelligence, especially on smuggling activities," he told reporters after launching the Chief Commissioners' Round Table Discussion at the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers today.

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He said the five ended up leaking information to the criminals involved in smuggling activities, and this involved corruption.

"We will apply to have these people remanded today morning to facilitate further investigations.

"We will interrogate those involved and will also record statements from witnesses who I cannot reveal at the moment," he said, adding that their investigations were meant to uncover the activities of the group, which was supposed to shoulder responsibilities given by the government.

Yesterday, the MACC dismantled a drug and contraband smuggling syndicateinvolving senior armed forces officers in the southern region.

The operation, codenamed Op Sohor, was launched early this morning and resulted in the arrest of five senior military officers and five civilians.

According to sources, the suspects, including an Indonesian national, are aged between 30 and 55, and were arrested around the Klang Valley during the 6.30am operation.

The operation was carried out by the MACC Intelligence Division with assistance from the Anti-Corruption Tactical Squad (ACTS).

Sources added that the syndicate is believed to have been capable of moving goods worth RM5 million each month.

The senior officers were from the armed forces intelligence division, including two former personnel from the same unit.

They were tasked with monitoring and curbing smuggling activities, but are believed to have colluded with the syndicate for the past five years, allegedly amassing more than RM3 million in bribes.