GEORGE TOWN – Police have arrested 12 people allegedly for being involved in a drug trafficking syndicate that supplies cannabis and syabu to Penang, Kedah, Perak and the Klang Valley.
They also seized 309kg of cannabis and 495g of syabu worth RM822,000, and 15 luxury vehicles, including a BMW, Toyota Vellfire, Honda Civic, Toyota Alphard and a Toyota Wish totalling RM1.5 million.
Bukit Aman Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department deputy director (Intelligence/Operations), Deputy Commissioner Zainudin Ahmad said the syndicate smuggled the drugs from a neighbouring country by sea.
“The syndicate has resorted to smuggling drugs by sea as the borders have been closed since March. They have identified safe and convenient landing areas in Penang and Kedah to avoid detection.
“The drugs seized this time are sufficient to supply to some 31,390 users,” he said during a press conference at the state police headquarters in Jalan Penang today.
Zainudin said police have also confiscated RM1.5 million worth of assets belonging to the suspects.
He added that the police arrested a 43-year-old man, who is believed to be the mastermind of the syndicate.
All suspects are aged between 22 and 46, including a Thai national and a woman.
The authorities on October 27, at 9.15pm raided a house in Bagan Nyiur in Juru and arrested the Thai national and seized 309kg of cannabis.
On the same night, a Bukit Aman team raided a house in Taiping and seized 495g of syabu and arrested another man.
Later, police arrested another nine people in Seberang Prai, George Town and Kupang in Baling, Kedah.
Police have obtained court orders to detain the suspects between three and seven days to facilitate investigations.
They were being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries a mandatory death sentence if convicted. – The Vibes, November 1, 2020