PENANG POLICE DISMANTLE DRUG TRAFFICKING SYNDICATE, NAB THREE

GEORGE TOWN, March 11 (Bernama) -- Police have dismantled a drug trafficking syndicate with the arrest of three local men and the seizure of various drugs and ketum juice worth over RM50,000 in three raids conducted around Bayan Lepas between 2 pm yesterday and 1 am today.

Penang police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad said that the operation, carried out by the Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department (NCID) of the state contingent police headquarters (IPK), led to the arrest of suspects, aged 26 to 29. They are believed to be involved in trafficking drugs, including ganja, syabu, Eramin 5, mushroom cigarettes, and ketum juice.

He said that during the raid, police seized five compressed packets containing dried plants wrapped in transparent plastic, believed to be ganja, with an estimated weight of 5,002 grams and a street value of RM15,500.

“The operation also uncovered 19 transparent plastic packets containing crystal-like substances, suspected to be syabu, weighing approximately 777 grams and valued at RM25,641. Additionally, seven cigarette sticks, each containing a mixture of tobacco and dried leaves believed to be a mushroom-based drug, were seized, weighing about 7.45 grams and worth RM175.

“Furthermore, officers seized 10 red and silver aluminium foils containing 2,000 Eramin 5 pills, weighing an estimated 560 grams and valued at RM16,000. Two transparent plastic packages containing a liquid suspected to be ketum juice, weighing approximately 500 millilitres (ml) and worth RM10, were also seized. The total value of the seized items stands at RM57,326,” he said in a statement today.

Hamzah said that apart from the drugs, police also seized two motorcycles valued at RM7,200 and cash amounting to RM1,340.

Intelligence revealed that the syndicate had been actively involved in drug trafficking since the beginning of the year and that the total amount of drugs seized could be used 66,000 times.

One of the suspects tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine, while checks also found that one suspect had a prior drug-related record.

He added that all suspects have been remanded for seven days starting today until March 17, for investigation under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

-- BERNAMA