Swamp-to-swamp: Two drug syndicate suspects escape into mangroves

JOHOR BARU: Two men believed to be members of a drug syndicate managed to escape the long arm of the law during an operation on Saturday (April 6).

Marine Police (PPM) Region 2 Commander Asst Comm Paul Khiu Khon Chiang (pic) said the two suspects escaped into the mangrove area of Sungai Pulai, Pontian, by abandoning their boat and swimming to shore.

He said the joint operation was conducted by the PPM Region 2 and Iskandar Puteri police on Saturday at around 6pm.

“Our men were patrolling the waters off Kukup to Tanjung Pelepas Port and Sungai Pulai when we saw two men on board a boat behaving suspiciously,” ACP Khiu told a press conference at the Iskandar Puteri Police District headquarters here Monday (April 8).

Also present at the press conference was Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm Dzulkhairi Mukhtar.

ACP Khiu said upon seeing the patrol boat, the suspects suddenly took off towards the mangrove area.

He added that during the chase, one of the suspects threw a black bag into the sea.

“It was low tide and our boat could not go further into the mangrove area as it was getting darker and we didn't want the men to take a risk by entering the mangrove jungle,” he said.

Asst Comm Dzulkhairi said police have seized 21,500 pills believed to be ecstasy with a street value of about RM645,000.

He said police also seized the 3.6m boat, 40hp Yamaha engine and four jerry cans with 100 litres of petrol.

“We are now monitoring villages in the area as they are located between 5km and 6.5km from the shoreline where the two suspects escaped,” said ACP Dzulkhairi.

The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.