IPOH (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - Malaysia's police arrested 39 suspects who were allegedly involved in murder, robbery, extortion, and drug trafficking in simultaneous raids in four states in late January.

The men, aged between 20 and 60, are allegedly members of an underworld gang, and linked to the murder of a woman in July last year.

The special police operations, dubbed Ops Cantas Silver 1/2018 (Operation Silver Cutoff), were conducted Jan 27 in Perak, Selangor, Melaka and Johor.

Perak police chief Hasnan Hassan said on Monday (Feb 19) that the suspects are being remanded for 28 days under the security law Sosma.

The Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) replaced the controversial Internal Security Act in 2012. Suspected criminals are sometimes placed under Sosma for investigations.

"Investigations have been completed and they will be charged in court on Tuesday (Feb 20)," he said.

The suspects will also be investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.

Datuk Hasnan said police are still trying to track down a few more suspects.

"They have been listed as wanted individuals by police. We will also enlist the help of Interpol to detect if any of them have escaped to other countries," he said.