Cops Cripple Syndicate Smuggling Over RM34 Million Worth Of Drugs In Vape Cartridges
PADANG BESAR, July 7 (Bernama) -- Police have crippled a drug trafficking syndicate suspected of filling vape cartridges with furanylfentanyl following the seizure of 228.75 litres of the banned susbtance valued at RM34.31 million through three separate raids around Padang Besar and Arau last week.
Perlis police chief Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim said the operation, conducted by the Perlis Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID), also led to the arrest of three people - a 38-year-old Thai woman and two men aged 68 and 55 - while another suspect is still at large.
He said that in the first raid on July 1, conducted by the Arau and Padang Besar District Narcotics Crime Investigation Division (DNCID) at a storage warehouse in Kampung Panggas, led to the arrest of the Tha woman and the seizure of 172 boxes containing 75,540 cartridges filled with 188.85 litres of suspected furanylfentanyl.
“On July 2, the Perlis NCID arrested a 68-year-old man in Kampung Guar Musang, Bukit Ketari and seized 35 boxes containing 21,000 vape cartridges filled with 39.9 litres of suspected furanylfentanyl,” he told a media conference at the Padang Besar District Police Headquarters here today.
Muhammad said further investigations led police to the third raid on July 3 around Ulu Pauh, Arau, which resulted in the arrest of the 55-year-old man.
He said the total amount of drugs seized could have fed the habits of 457,500 addicts.
“Investigations found that this syndicate is believed to have used storage units and residential houses as transit points before smuggling the drugs into a neighbouring country,” he said.
Muhammad said the 55-year-old suspect tested postive for drugs while checks showed that the two male suspects have prior offences under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 and the Poisons Act 1952.
He added that the three suspects have been remanded until tomorrow and police will apply for an extension of the remand period to complete investigations.
He also said that police are currently tracking down another suspect who remains at large, and the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
-- BERNAMA
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