East Coast drug syndicate busted in RM25 million meth and heroin seizure

THE Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have dismantled what is believed to be the largest international drug trafficking syndicate operating along the east coast this year, seizing RM25 million worth of methamphetamine and heroin base in two coordinated raids in Setiu, Terengganu on 23 April.

Bernama cited Acting Director of Bukit Aman’s Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID), Deputy Commissioner Mat Zani @ Mohd Salahuddin Che Ali (pic), said 590.18 kilogrammes of narcotics were confiscated. The drugs, smuggled in from Vietnam via the Golden Triangle, were repackaged in Setiu before being readied for export to Australia.

In the first raid at 9pm on the banks of Sungai Setiu, police arrested a 32-year-old man from Selangor as he was unloading 29 bags from a boat.

“An inspection of the multicoloured bags revealed 470 plastic packages suspected to contain 479.27kg of methamphetamine, and 297 blocks of heroin base weighing 109.89kg,” said Mat Zani during a press conference at Setiu District Police Headquarters.

A second raid took place an hour later about 500 metres away at Pulau Tok Bilal, where a 39-year-old local man from Terengganu was arrested with a backpack containing 1.02kg of methamphetamine aboard a fibreglass boat.

Police believe the syndicate, active since March, used rented boats disguised as fishing trip packages—costing RM4,800 per trip—to reach the drop-off zone where drugs were repackaged before being transferred to a yacht off the Terengganu coast en route to Australia.

“This is the first time we’ve detected such a modus operandi, which appears to have been designed to avoid detection by enforcement agencies,” Mat Zani said.

The amount of drugs seized could have supplied up to 2.95 million addicts, according to police estimates.

Both suspects, who have prior criminal records under the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 and the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, are believed to be part of the same syndicate and were allegedly paid RM50,000 each for their roles.

In addition to the narcotics, police seized three vehicles—a Toyota Vios, Honda Civic, and Honda EX5 motorcycle—as well as jewellery, a branded helmet, and RM1,631 in cash, all valued at approximately RM46,000.

The suspects are currently remanded from 24 April to 7 May and are being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

Mat Zani credited the successful operation to the close cooperation between Bukit Aman NCID, the Terengganu and Kelantan police contingents, and the Marine Police, following a month-long intelligence operation to track and dismantle the syndicate using Malaysia as a drug transit hub. - May 5, 2025