GEORGE TOWN – Penang’s marine police have busted a drug syndicate using the state as a transit point and seized RM9.49 million worth of drugs.
Five suspects were arrested in the raids.
Penang police chief Datuk Sahabudin Abd Manan said it is believed the syndicate was smuggling drugs through Penang from a country in the north to Aceh in Indonesia.
In the raids, police confiscated 263.7kg of drugs believed to be syabu in 245 gold-coloured plastic packages.
A total of RM30,950 cash, four vehicles worth RM104,000 and jewellery worth RM52,000 were also seized in the raids.
Sahabudin said this is the biggest haul so far this year by state police.
“On February 17 about 6.30pm, marine police on an Op Benteng patrol arrested two Indonesians, aged 29 and 33, who were on a boat in waters off Teluk Tempoyak.
“Both are labourers and tested negative for drugs.
“They failed to produce identification documents and were arrested before being handed over to the state Marine Intelligence Unit for further investigations,” he told reporters at the state police headquarters today.
After interrogating the suspects, police raided a fishing hut and an illegal jetty at the Keluang riverbank in Bayan Lepas.
“On February 18 about 4am, a team from Batu Uban raided the hut and arrested an unemployed 55-year-old man.
“He tested positive for drugs and was found to have 11 prior drug and gambling records.
“Following the raid, the team found a boat with 130 gold-coloured plastic packages believed to be syabu.
“Further investigation found a white car nearby with 115 more packages inside.
“Following interrogation of the three suspects, police arrested a fisherman at his house in Sg Ara in Bayan Lepas and a 57-year-old man in Kuala Juru.
“The 58-year-old fisherman tested positive for drugs and has two previous records whereas the 57-year-old suspect is the owner of a boat repair workshop in Juru.
“He tested negative for drugs but has a criminal record,” he said.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The first three suspects arrested were remanded for seven days from February 18 while remand order for the other two suspects ends tomorrow. – The Vibes, February 22, 2021
