KUALA LUMPUR: Police have busted a notorious kidnapping syndicate known to have been demanding ransoms of between RM1mil and RM50mil from the families of victims.

"The highest amount paid to the syndicate was RM8mil," federal deputy CID director Senior Asst Comm 1 Shatar Abdul Jalil said yesterday.

He said police had arrested 16 of the syndicate members, three of whom were women, from various parts of the country in a special operation conducted by the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) since the end of last month.

They also seized guns, ammunition, hand grenades and handcuffs. Police are hunting for several more members of the gang.

Police had been on the hunt for the gang the past four years, SAC Shatar said.

Last Friday, police raided a house in Penang and seized two pistols and 48 rounds of ammunition. Then on Monday, police raided another house in Seremban and seized a pistol, eight bullets, three hand grenades, two handcuffs and a ski mask.

SAC Shatar said initial investigations revealed that the syndicate had been active in Selangor, Johor, Kedah and here.

The kidnap victims were aged between seven years old and 54 years old.

He said all the victims were released safely after ransoms were paid by the victims' families. But some of the victims suffered injuries while being held by the kidnappers.

SAC Shatar said police were also investigating whether the syndicate was involved in any criminal activities.

The suspects, aged between 21 and 41, are being detained under the Kidnapping Act 1961 and Firearms Act 1977 to facilitate investigations.

SAC Shatar said kidnapping syndicates in the country had become more violent and ruthless in recent time.

"They are using dangerous weapons, causing serious injuries to victims and even death," he said when referring to the gruesome murder of 16-year-old Lai Ying Xin, who was strangled before her body was set on fire in Kulai, Johor Baru.