International Drug Syndicate Busted, Drugs Worth RM174 Million Seized - IGP

KOTA KINABALU,  Feb 13 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) have crippled an international drug trafficking syndicate with the seizure of narcotics and assets estimated to be worth RM174 million during Op Coleoptera, carried out in a series of raids on Jan 20 and 21.

Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said seven coordinated raids were conducted in Penampang, Inanam, Kota Kinabalu, Port Klang and Teluk Sepanggar Port, leading to the arrest of eight suspects aged between 23 and 45, including two women.

Among the drugs seized were 3,043.5 kilogrammes (kg) of methamphetamine, 102.5kg of ketamine, 90kg of ecstasy pills, four kg of vape liquid believed to contain cocaine, and 2.6kg of Erimin 5 pills.

“On Jan 21, at a logistics premises in Port Klang, police seized 250 packages of suspected methamphetamine weighing 255kg, which were believed to be awaiting shipment to Sabah.

“If these illicit substances had successfully entered the market, they could have destroyed the lives of an estimated 16 million individuals,” he said at a press conference after the handover ceremony of four-wheel-drive vehicles donated by the Sabah state government at the Sabah Police Contingent Headquarters here today.

Mohd Khalid said the syndicate is believed to have used sea routes as its primary mode of transportation, storing drugs in shipping containers at logistics hubs before distributing them to international markets.

He added that the group had been active for several years.

Initial urine screening tests found five of the suspects positive for methamphetamine and ketamine. Four of them have since been charged under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

Another suspect was detained under Section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985, while two others were released on bail as prosecution witnesses.

Meanwhile, in a separate operation dubbed Op Bayu 2 conducted between Feb 5 and 8, police arrested four individuals, including a woman, aged between 20 and 35, in the Penampang area.

 Mohd Khalid said as a result of the arrests, the police seized various types of drugs estimated to be worth RM 69.659 million.

"Police also seized a four-wheel drive vehicle, cash and a mobile phone," he said, adding that the public can channel information via the JSJN hotline at 012 -208 7222.

-- BERNAMA