GEORGE TOWN – A couple and their friend were arrested by police in Air Itam here on Sunday after they were suspected to be masterminds behind a drug trafficking syndicate in Penang.
The Narcotics Crime Investigation Division of the northeast district police headquarters conducted three raids, leading to the seizure of more than 22kg of cannabis and 61.5g of methamphetamine, in total worth RM61,847.
Northeast district police chief Soffian Santong said the first raid was carried out at 9pm at a flat in Air Itam that saw the arrest of two local men aged 38 and 40.
Acting on information from the suspects, one of whom aged 40 works as a car washer, while the other is a 38-year-old unemployed man, police inspected a Proton Waja car in the parking lot of the flat’s complex. They found dozens of compressed cannabis packs hidden in its boot.
Following that, Soffian said, police raided another residential unit in the same flat complex and arrested a 40-year-old woman, the wife of the unemployed man.
“The results of the investigation found that this syndicate has been active in distributing cannabis around Paya Terubong and Air Itam,” he said at a press conference here today.
A review of past records found the car washer had seven previous criminal records involving drugs, while his friend had four similar criminal records.
“As for the urine test, the two male suspects tested positive for methamphetamine, while the woman who worked as a saleswoman was free of drug influences,” he added.
Also seized in the raid were 23 compressed cannabis packs, two glass bottles, and seven transparent packets containing cannabis, lighters, digital scales, and several other equipment believed to be used for the drug distribution activities.
Apart from these seizures, police also confiscated two motorcycles and cars used by the syndicate with a total amount, including the drugs, estimated to be worth RM151,047.
Soffian said police are now tracking down the unemployed man’s brother to assist in the investigations.
“The results of the interrogation found the first home raided was rented by the brother, while the second home was inherited from their father.
“The three suspects are now remanded until February 11 to assist in the investigation and the case is being investigated in accordance with Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 (for trafficking in dangerous drugs),” he said. – The Vibes, February 8, 2022
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