News
S'pore police investigate M'sian man, 39, for vehicle theft linked to M'sia vehicle cloning syndicate
He was arrested by Malaysia police and handed over to Singapore police.
March 24, 2026, 11:32 AM
A 39-year-old Malaysian man was handed over by the Malaysia police to the Singapore Police Force (SPF) for investigations into local cases of vehicle theft.
Arrested during Malaysia police operation on vehicle cloning syndicate
Mohd Mazuan Bin Abdullah was brought back by SPF officers on Mar. 23 to a vehicle scrapyard along Sungei Kadut Street 4, where he is suspected of stealing a car bound for scrapping.
According to charge sheets seen by Mothership, Mazuan faces one count of vehicle theft, involving the theft of a deregistered BMW worth S$1,000.
He is accused of stealing a motorcar with two accomplices sometime between 9:45pm on Nov. 22, 2025, and 11am on Nov. 23, 2025, from the Sungei Kadut area.
The car was stolen from Sungei Kadut Street 1, which is the location of another scrapyard.
Mazuan was clad in blue-and-white detention garb and restrained by his wrists and ankles when escorted by three police officers during the scene visit.
The entire visit lasted about two minutes.
Photo via Mothership.
Photo via Mothership.
Photo via Mothership.
Photo via Mothership.
Mazuan's case was scheduled to be heard in court again on Mar. 24 morning.
Malaysia media reports on vehicle cloning syndicate
A total of 12 people — 10 men and two women — were arrested in Malaysia between Mar. 12 and 15, according to New Straits Times.
They are suspected of participating in illegal vehicle cloning activities.
The syndicate was suspected to have been involved in smuggling stolen vehicles from Singapore to Malaysia, it was reported.
Mazuan was handed over to SPF on Mar. 16.
Image via SPF.
Car cloning involves giving stolen or illegally obtained vehicles the identity of a legally registered car, according to Malay Mail.
This can be done by altering the chassis and engine numbers and forging documents, such as registration cards and road tax.
The recent Malaysia police operation led to the seizure of RM1.1 million (S$323,000) worth of cloned vehicles.
Four of the vehicles were said to have been stolen in Singapore.
Penalties
If convicted of vehicle theft, those convicted may be jailed up to seven years and fined.
There has been a surge in the number of deregistered vehicles being involved in hit-and-run accidents and crime cases in Singapore in 2025.
There were 245 cases reported in 2025, 75 cases in 2024, 39 cases in 2023, and 40 cases in 2022, figures from the authorities showed
Top image via Mothership
