Penang: Police yesterday arrested five Middle Eastern nationals to assist in the investigation into the theft of money from several foreign tourists who were believed to have been "put under a spell" (pukau) in incidents at hotspots around the city centre. Penang acting police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin stated that the three men and two women, including a married couple, all aged between 19 and 35, were detained at the Gurney Plaza area under Op Tourist.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, between July 30 and August 1, three police reports were received regarding cash thefts involving tourists from Taiwan, the Netherlands, and Syria, aged between 29 and 52, in the Pulau Tikus and Jalan Penang areas. Acting on information, a team from the Timur Laut District Police Headquarters Criminal Investigation Division, Pulau Tikus Police Station, and the Central Police Station conducted an operation and detained the five Middle Eastern suspects.

Police seized multiple foreign currencies, two vehicles, and a packet of ganja during the operation. Preliminary urine tests revealed that two of the suspects tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The group's modus operandi involved targeting foreign tourists by engaging them in conversation and allegedly asking them to reveal the cash in their possession. The suspects would then discreetly take the money and leave the scene, with victims only realizing their money was gone after the suspects had left.

All the suspects have been remanded for four days until August 6, and the case is being investigated under sections 379 and 380 of the Penal Code and sections 6 and 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Alwi emphasized the commitment to ensuring the safety of locals and tourists and advised the public to remain vigilant when dealing with unknown individuals and to safeguard their valuables at all times. He urged anyone with information to contact the Penang Criminal Investigation Department Operations Room at 04-222 1624 or the nearest police station.