Johor Police Bust Drug Syndicate, Seize Nearly RM3 Mln Worth Of Narcotics

JOHOR BAHRU, July 2 (Bernama) -- Johor police have crippled a drug trafficking syndicate with the arrest of five individuals, and the seizure of various drugs worth nearly RM3 million in a special operation around Johor Bahru on June 19.

Johor police chief CP Datuk M Kumar said the operation, led by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) of the Johor contingent police headquarters, involved three separate raids carried out between noon and 9 pm that day.

Those arrested comprised three local men and two Vietnamese women, aged between 29 and 46.

“All five tested positive for methamphetamine. Background checks revealed that three of them had prior criminal records, including drug-related offences, and are wanted under Sections 39A(1), 39C and 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952,” he told a press conference today.

Kumar said the syndicate is believed to have used two apartment units and a gated-and-guarded terrace house as storage and repackaging sites for distributing the drugs to the local market.

Kumar said the syndicate is believed to have communicated directly with buyers via WeChat and placed the drugs at predetermined drop-off points such as roadside areas, drains or rubbish bins.

“All payments were made online, with no physical contact between the dealers and buyers,” he said, adding that one of the local men arrested is believed to be the syndicate’s mastermind.

During the operation, police seized 16,865 g of ecstasy powder worth RM2,816,455; 104 g of ketamine worth RM20,800; 548 g (1,950 tablets) of Erimin 5 worth RM54,000; 375 g (1,250 tablets) of ecstasy pills worth RM62,625; and 7 g (35 tablets) of yaba pills worth RM525, all estimated at RM2,954,405.

“These drugs could have supplied up to 59,971 addicts. We also seized various tools used for processing and packaging the drugs,” he said.

In addition, five vehicles of various makes worth RM228,600, RM9,100 in cash, and jewellery valued at RM18,901 were seized, bringing the total assets seized to RM256,601.

“The total value of drugs and property seized in this operation is estimated to be RM3,211,006,” he said.

Kumar said all the suspects were remanded until July 3 for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment and caning. 

The two Vietnamese women are also being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 for lacking valid travel documents.

Meanwhile, he said the Johor NCID had arrested 12,835 individuals for drug offences, as well as seized 1.08 tonnes of drugs and 5,816.56 litres of suspected drug substances amounting to RM106.97 million, during the first half of this year.  

“Drug syndicate-related assets worth RM9.23 million were seized during that period as well,” he added.

Johor police urged the public to continue providing information on drug trafficking activities via the NCID hotline at 012-208 7222.

-- BERNAMA