Man, his wife and girlfriend nabbed as police seize RM3mil in syabu

JOHOR BARU: A man and his Indonesian wife, allegedly in cohorts with an international drug syndicate, were arrested with nearly RM3 million worth of syabu in a raid at a guarded terrace house in Bandar Penawar, Kota Tinggi, on Sept 3.

Also arrested was a Malaysian woman, in her 30s, believed to be the man’s girlfriend.

The trio, aged between 30 and 43, were arrested by state Narcotics Crime Investigation Department detectives in a joint operation with their Kota Tinggi NCID counterparts at 10.30pm.

Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the trio are not believed to be the masterminds, but are suspected to be working with an international drug syndicate.

Police seized 76 packets of syabu weighing about 80kg, which were found hidden in Chinese tea packages.

“We believe the syndicate has been active since April last year, using the house as a transit store before trafficking the drugs by sea to Indonesia’s Batam and Riau Islands.

“The seized narcotics could have supplied up to 400,000 addicts,” Rahaman told reporters at the state police headquarters here today.

Police also seized four cars, two motorcycles, RM4,000 cash, 14 million rupiah (RM3,607), and a gold bar worth RM21,497.93.

Checks showed the Malaysian man had a criminal record with nine entries, while his girlfriend had one with six.

Both also tested positive for methamphetamine. The Indonesian woman, however, tested negative.

The foreign woman, who frequently entered Malaysia on a tourist visa, was found to have a valid travel document.

All three suspects were remanded to facilitate investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for trafficking.

The offence carries the death penalty, or life imprisonment with caning.

The Indonesian is also being probed under the Immigration Act 1959/63.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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