GEORGE TOWN – A 54-year-old local drug “otai” (old-timer) who allegedly specialises in manufacturing and distributing heroin was arrested in a raid in Permatang Nibong, Bukit Mertajam, last Wednesday.
Apart from the drug lord, who has been active since 1995, police also detained the suspect’s 30-year-old wife, and another couple aged 50 and 40, believed to be involved in a syndicate that processes and distributes heroin and cannabis.
Through the operation, police seized heroin, cannabis and cooking utensils estimated to be worth RM126,840 as well as a Honda Civic car.
Penang Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department head Mustafa Kamal Gani Abdullah said the arrest of the drug lord led to the discovery of an illegal laboratory in a boarding house in nearby Kulim, Kedah where the heroin was processed.
He said that the amount of drugs seized in the operation is large enough for 64,139 addicts.
“Police launched five raids in Central Seberang Perai, the Northeast and Kulim districts on Tuesday and Wednesday, and arrested four suspects consisting of two married couples.
“The first raid was made last Tuesday at a house in Bukit Mertajam where police arrested a couple aged 50 and 40 on suspicion of being involved in the distribution of cannabis and heroin,” he said at a press conference today.
Mustafa said that as a result of interrogating the couple, police made a second raid on a vehicle parked at the suspect’s family home in Air Itam here.
The woman lived with her family. In the Honda Civic, police found five pieces of cannabis weighing 5.02kg worth RM12,550 and two transparent packets of heroin weighing 0.114kg worth RM3,990.”
Following this, police arrested the drug lord and his 30-year-old wife at a roadside house in Permatang Nibong at 8am last Wednesday.
“Police found 13 packages of heroin with an estimated weight of 5,245.9g estimated to be worth RM70,300 in their vehicle.
“We also raided a rented homestay in Kulim on the same day at about 3pm and dismantled an illegal laboratory processing heroin masterminded by the drug ‘otai’ (old-timer),” he said.
Mustafa said the drug lord was believed to have obtained his supplies in Sg Petani, Kedah and acted as a heroin “chef” in an illegal laboratory.
He said that in the illegal laboratory, police seized a compressed lump of base heroin (375g), a packet of heroin weighing 60g, 12,000g of caffeine powder, a bottle of liquid chloroform and drug processing equipment.
“The results of the investigation found that the 54-year-old suspect has a previous criminal record related to drugs since 1995.
“We are tracking down those who are ‘students’ of this suspect,” he said.
He said the results of the urine screening test on the suspects found three of them positive for drugs.
All the suspects were remanded for seven days until November 24 to assist in investigations. – The Vibes, November 20, 2021
