KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 -- Police shot dead three men believed to be part of a four-wheel drive vehicle theft syndicate during a raid at a homestay in Taman Sejahtera, Sik, last Thursday.

According to Sinar Harian, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said the 2.30am raid followed intelligence on a syndicate stealing vehicles in Melaka, Selangor, Pahang, and Perak for cross-border smuggling.

He said the three suspects, aged between 35 and 37, responded aggressively by firing shots at police and attacking with a machete.

Police returned fire in self-defence, resulting in all suspects suffering fatal injuries at the scene.

A subsequent search uncovered two pistols, several bullet casings a...