RM20mil in drugs seized in Melaka

Suspicious beverage: Comm Mohmad (centre) flanked by Melaka police chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan (second from left) and Bukit Aman JSJN deputy chief Datuk Kang Chez Chiang holding up packets of ‘high-grade Chinese tea’ with drugs hidden in them in Melaka. — Bernama

MELAKA: Police have busted two major drug syndicates here, with drugs valued at more than RM20mil seized.

According to police, the combined weight of the drugs was 275.1kg which they said could cater to about 1.4 million addicts.

Two homes were raided in Ayer Keroh on Saturday, with three suspects held and over 200kg of syabu packed and labelled as “high-grade Chinese tea” seized.

Police said the disguised drugs, worth about RM14.1mil, could cater to up to about a million addicts.

Bukit Aman Narcotics Crime Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh said the raid was conducted by the Special Tactical Intelligence Narcotics Group.

Three vehicles and RM450 were also confiscated during the raids, he said, adding the suspects were aged between 32 and 47.

“The substance weighed 201.3kg and could cater to a million addicts,” Comm Mohmad told reporters here yesterday.

He said the seizure was the biggest drug haul in the state so far this year.

“The suspects have no criminal record but both tested positive for drugs,” he said.

All three have been remanded until Saturday to assist in investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.

A drug distribution ring was also crippled after a series of raids over the weekend in Johor, Kuala Lumpur and Kajang led to the arrest of five suspects.

A variety of drugs, including 43.7kg of syabu, 31.4kg of heroin and about 180,000 ecstasy pills were seized by police. The drugs were estimated to be worth about RM6.2mil.

It is said the drugs could cater to feed the addiction of over 400,000 drug addicts.

The police also seized six cars and over RM66,000.

Comm Mohmad said police were keen to know how long the syndicate had been operating.

He said police believed the suspects were drug distributors, not producers.

He said the department had seized about RM30.6mil worth of drugs nationwide from January to March 1.

Syabu topped the list with over 350kg seized over the three months, with 28,412 suspects arrested.