GEORGE TOWN – Penang police seized over 9kg of heroin worth RM120,000 and busted a drug trafficking syndicate masterminded by three fishermen last Wednesday.
State Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department chief Mohd Shukhairy Abd Sabhe said as a result of police intelligence, they managed to trace and pursue a suspicious vehicle in Jalan Besar, Nibong Tebal, at about 3.50pm.
He said the local man drove off for 200m as he tried to flee, before his vehicle lost control and skidded to the side of the road.
“Police found 9.03kg of heroin in the front passenger seat, and all the drugs are believed to be delivered to customers,” he said during a press conference at the Penang police headquarters, today.
Following the initial arrest, he said, police nabbed two more suspects in Nibong Tebal, and Kuala Kurau, Perak, on the same day.
He said the three suspects were aged between 34 and 53, while the syndicate is believed to have been active since the beginning of this year.
“The seized drugs can be used on 45,000 addicts, and they are also believed to be distributing heroin for the Penang and Perak markets,” Shukhairy said.
“The three suspects also have past records related to drug offences and crimes, apart from that, their urine tests also tested positive for methamphetamine”.
Apart from the drugs, Shukhairy said, police also seized cash amounting to RM50,000 and a vehicle worth RM80,000.
The three suspects are now remanded until June 22 to assist in the investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. – The Vibes, June 17, 2022