JOHOR BAHRU, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Johor police crippled two drug syndicates with the arrest of four individuals, including an 18-year-old Indonesian man, and seized over 25 kilogrammes of various drugs in two separate operations in Kulai and Kluang last week.
Johor police chief Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said that in the first operation on Sept 11, the Kulai District Narcotics Crime Investigation Division raided two locations around Kampung Sepakat Baru, Senai, at 6 pm, detaining three individuals, two men and a woman, aged between 18 and 54.
He said department personnel checked an illegally built house in Kampung Sepakat Baru and found 72 grammes(g) of syabu, 59g of heroin, 5g of Yaba pills, 57g of ganja, and 10 plastic packets suspected to contain caffeine. They also seized a CZ pistol and 79 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
"In the second raid at the same location, police detained an 18-year-old woman and seized three plastic packets suspected to contain syabu weighing about 75g and a packet of suspected heroin weighing 10g. This brought the total weight of drugs seized at this location to 0.278kg, valued at RM11,401.
"Based on intelligence, the two men were identified as drug pushers, while the woman acted as a financial manager handling the drug proceeds," he told a press conference at the Johor Contingent Police Headquarters today.
Ab Rahaman said the three suspects were syndicate accomplices with no family ties. The syndicate is believed to have been active since June.
He added that both men tested positive for morphine in urine screening and had previous drug-related records, while the woman tested negative.
All three suspects have been remanded for 10 days from Sept 12 to 21.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, Section 30(3) of the Poisons Act 1952, and Section 8 of the Firearms (Increased Penalties) Act 1971.
"Action was also taken under the Dangerous Drugs (Forfeiture of Property) Act 1988, involving seizures valued at RM155,788, including a Mercedes-Benz C180, an Isuzu lorry, a Yamaha LC motorcycle, a Honda Wave motorcycle, RM51,000 in cash, and jewellery worth RM22,788. This brings the total value of seizures and forfeitures in the first case to RM197,189," he said.
In the second operation on Sept 13, the Kluang District Narcotics Crime Investigation Division raided a house at Jalan Jelutong, Taman Lin Seng, Kluang, at 3 pm and arrested an 18-year-old Indonesian.
Ab Rahaman said police found eight plastic packets of suspected syabu weighing 8.11 kg and 38 plastic packets of suspected heroin weighing 17.84 kg, with the total seizure weighing 25.95 kg and valued at about RM1.29 million.
He said intelligence showed the suspect acted as a storekeeper for drug supplies. The syndicate is believed to have been operating since January.
"The suspect has no prior criminal record and tested negative in a urine screening. He has been remanded from Sept 14 to 20. The suspect entered Malaysia legally with a passport via Port Klang in 2023 but overstayed his visitor visa by two months," he said.
Police are investigating the case under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
He added the drugs were meant for the local market and could have been consumed by about 130,906 drug addicts if distributed.
"The masterminds behind both syndicates remain at large and are actively being tracked down, whilst investigations are ongoing to identify other syndicate members," he said.
-- BERNAMA