PENANG POLICE NAB THREE INCLUDING TWO BROTHERS WITH CANNABIS WORTH RM153,078

BALIK PULAU, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- Police believed they have crippled a drug trafficking syndicate following the arrest of three men, two of whom are brothers, and the seizure of 49.38 kg of cannabis worth RM153,078 in two raids in Pantai Jerejak, Penang, and Sungai Petani, Kedah, last Friday.

Southwest District Police chief ACP Sazalee Adam said, acting on intelligence and surveillance, a team from the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID) carried out the first raid in Pantai Jerejak at around 9 pm.

“During the raid, two men aged 33 and 43 were inside a vehicle, suspected to be involved in a drug deal. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 65 cannabis slabs weighing 49.38kg and worth RM153,078,” he told a press conference today.

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He said a brief struggle ensued during the arrest as the two suspects, one unemployed and the other working as a motor insurance runner, attempted to flee, but police managed to apprehend them swiftly.

The arrest led to the second raid at a house in Sungai Petani, where the third suspect, an older brother of one of the men, believed to be the mastermind behind the operation, was nabbed.

“Investigations indicate the syndicate sourced its cannabis from a neighbouring country, smuggling it in via land routes before passing it to middlemen for distribution across local networks,” Sazalee said.

The syndicate is believed to have been actively trafficking cannabis for the past two years, targeting areas in Penang and northern states. The amount of cannabis seized is estimated to supply up to 98,700 addicts.

“We are now tracking down other members, including potential links to international drug trafficking rings,” he said.

Police also seized two vehicles, a Proton Exora and a Nissan Sentra, worth a total of RM23,500 in connection with the case.

Sazalee added that the trio, who each have prior criminal and drug-related records, have been remanded for seven days to assist with investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the mandatory death penalty upon conviction.

-- BERNAMA