POLICE are on the hunt for a woman believed to be the leader of a drug smuggling syndicate after three individuals were arrested and cannabis flowers worth RM1.82 million were seized in Kuala Krai last week.
The suspect, believed to be in her 30s, is thought to hold dual citizenship, namely Malaysian and Thai. Authorities are now working closely with their counterparts in Thailand to track her down.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Hussein Omar Khan said the woman is believed to be operating from across the border.
“The mastermind of this syndicate is believed to be a woman based in the neighbouring country. We are also investigating whether she truly holds dual citizenship,” he said during a press conference at the Kelantan police contingent headquarters today.
He said the seizure was the result of a four-month operation by the Bukit Aman Narcotics Department under Ops Agas, which uncovered cannabis flowers believed to be intended for the international market.
“Ops Agas successfully crippled a sophisticated drug distribution syndicate through two raids in Kuala Krai on January 3. Police arrested three local men aged between 32 and 50,” he said.
In the first raid, police pursued a suspect along the Kota Bharu–Gua Musang road, resulting in a collision involving a Proton Exora driven by the suspect.
“JSJN managed to arrest the man and seized 320 transparent plastic packages containing cannabis flowers weighing 52 kilogrammes,” he said.
In the second raid at Taman Sri Guchil, police chased a Perodua Myvi before successfully arresting the second and third suspects.
“The total value of the drugs and two vehicles seized is estimated at RM1.92 million. The value of the drugs alone could have reached tens of millions of ringgit had they entered the international market and could have damaged the lives of 104,000 people,” he said.
Hussein said the first suspect acted as the coordinator, adding that an initial urine screening found him positive for ketamine, while the second and third suspects were transporters.
According to police investigations, the syndicate is believed to have been active since September 2024, using Pengkalan Jambu in Rantau Panjang as a collection point.
“The drugs would then be transported to a transit house at the edge of a village in Pulau Gajah, Sabak, Pengkalan Chepa, before being distributed to local and international markets,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, and all suspects have been remanded for 14 days until January 16. - January 11, 2026
