NIBONG TEBAL: The Penang police are in the midst of launching 'Ops Sayang III' to cripple several more syndicates which are actively selling babies and toddlers to ready buyers in the state.

While the syndicates have been identified, state police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said details could not be divulged as they might hamper ongoing investigations.

"As a follow-up to 'Ops Sayang I' and 'Ops Sayang II', we will launch 'Ops Sayang III' to bring the rest of the syndicate members to book," he told reporters after a function at the Tasek Mutiara police station in Simpang Ampat near here Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, eight people, allegedly linked to a baby-for-sale syndicate and detained since Saturday, were freed on court bail on Wednesday, upon expiry of their remand.

Abdul Rahim said they comprised five women and three men, aged between 28 and 50.

Last Sunday, 22 babies and toddlers, believed to be victims of a human trafficking syndicate, were rescued in Selangor, Johor, Perak, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Negri Sembilan and Penang.

Under 'Ops Pintas Sayang II', the police uncovered the syndicate and detained 45 people to facilitate investigations.

On Jan 24, the police, under 'Ops Pintas I', had also crippled a syndicate selling babies and toddlers, which had been operating actively in the state, Kedah and Perak, with the arrest of 33 people.

Eight babies and toddlers were rescued.

Related Stories:
Remand of eight in baby-for-sale probe extended
Cops closing in on more baby traffickers
Adoptive parents in child trafficking case remanded
Hishammuddin: Police closing in on two more human trafficking syndicates
21 babies and children rescued from Penang-based ring
Experts: Counselling vital for rescued children
Adoptive parents and kids at a loss after rescue, says exco man
21 infant and children rescued from human trafficking syndicate

• Travel Picks: Top 10 golf resorts around the world
• Chinese premier criticizes EU move on trade measures
• Justice Department opposes AMR's $20 million severance for CEO Horton
• News Corp to take charge of up to $1.4 billion this quarter
• Wall Street Week Ahead: Investors look for signs in the rally's break
• Unhappy with how your fave series is faring? Amazon gives you a say
• Visa, Mastercard ask U.S. court to declare card fees are lawful
• Wall Street posts first weekly loss since mid-April on Fed angst
• IMF's Lagarde escapes formal investigation in court
• Politics of development pays dividend
• A thematic play seen
• Sarawak counters hogging the limelight
• Getting GST acceptance will be tough
• A yen for the unloved dollar standard
• Bitten by the music bug

• French soldier stabbed on patrol in Paris
• Thousands run final mile of Boston Marathon as memorial
• Trio arrested over London soldier murder

• Sweet revenge as Froch defeats Kessler
• Pandelela-Mun Yee and Yan Yee-Jun Hoong bag bronze medals in Mexico
• World No. 1 Nicol sinks Waters to reach British Open final
• China confident of sweeping aside their final opponents
• Koreans in the final despite Dong-keun’s loss
• Macdonald and Marques share the lead
• McIlroy among big names who miss the cut as Molinari leads
• Kuchar leads in weather-hit second round
• Two tied at the top as rain stops play in the Bahamas
• Nico Rosberg revels in the rain as Mercedes stamp their mark
• Whitmarsh: McLaren’s hopes were too high this season
• Affendi brushes off hand injury to win CP130 race in Terengganu
• Hafizh needs to step up a gear after coming in fifth
• Vignesa right on track to retain GT Open title
• Dragons’ Melton confident of getting the better of Pringle in Game 2

• Please wait.

• Too blessed to be stressed
• Give birth naturally, women urged
• It takes nearly 72 hours to get a new polycarbonate passport now
• Indian warships visit Malaysian waters
• ‘Harry Potter Wong’ casts his spell
• Theme parks and long holiday help fill Johor hotel rooms
• Housewife extorted over nude pics
• Exemplary educators
• The Wall Street Journal: Anwar asked Jusuf to broker deal over GE13
• Weighing the options