JOHOR BARU: Police cracked an international drug trafficking syndicate run by a married couple, seizing drugs worth about RM3mil during a raid at a terrace house last Tuesday (Sept 2).
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the couple were arrested along with the man’s local girlfriend, in her 30s.
“We managed to confiscate 76 packets of drugs suspected to be syabu weighing about 80kg, which were packed in Chinese tea bags.
“The raid by the Johor contingent police headquarters Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) together with Kota Tinggi NCID took place at about 10.30pm,” he said during a press conference at the Johor police headquarters on Monday (Sept 8).
He said during the raid at a gated and guarded house, a local man along with his Indonesian wife and a local woman were arrested.
“76 packets of drugs suspected to be syabu worth an estimated RM2.5mil were seized.
“The syndicate’s modus operandi was to use the terrace house as a transit store before distributing the drugs to overseas markets, namely the Riau Islands and Batam in Indonesia,” he said.
Ab Rahaman said the couple are not the masterminds.
“Further intelligence indicates possible links to other syndicates and if confirmed, more arrests will follow.
“This syndicate has been actively operating since April last year. If the seized drugs had made it to the market, they could have been used by up to 400,000 addicts,” he said at a press conference highlighting the success at the Johor police headquarters Monday.
He said aside from drugs, four cars, two motorcycles, RM4,000 in cash, 14 million Indonesian Rupiah (RM3,607) in cash and gold bars worth RM21,497.93 were also confiscated.
He also stressed that the syndicate smuggled drugs into Batam using sea routes.
“The couple had not registered their marriage in this country. Investigations found that the Indonesian woman had a valid travel document and frequently entered and exited Malaysia using a tourist visa.
“The male suspect has nine previous criminal offences, while the local female suspect has six previous criminal offences,” he said.
Ab Rahaman said two of the three suspects tested positive for methamphetamine.
“All suspects have been remanded until tomorrow for further investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction. In the case of life imprisonment, the offender must also be given no fewer than 15 strokes of the cane.
“The Indonesian woman is also being investigated under Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 to verify her travel documents,” he said.
Ab Rahaman also revealed that police have arrested 17,242 individuals for various drug-related offences this year, seizing 1.47 tonnes and 6,921.45l of drugs.
“The total drug haul is valued at RM125.88mil, while seized assets belonging to syndicates amounted to RM12.92mil.
“I urge the public to continue providing information on drug distribution activities in their areas. Any information can be channelled to the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department hotline at 012-208 7222,” he added.
