RM25.87mil drug bust in Penang, biggest this year

GEORGE TOWN: Police arrested two people and seized RM25.87mil worth of drugs at the Nibong Tebal industrial park in an operation conducted over three days, says the Penang police chief.

Comm Datuk Sahabudin Abd Manan said a team of police officers and personnel from the state narcotics criminal investigation department (NCID), in collaboration with South Seberang Prai NCID and Nibong Tebal police station, conducted the operation that began from 7pm Dec 21 until 11pm Dec 23.

He said during raids, police confiscated drugs believed to be syabu, Ecstasy pills, ketamine and heroin.

This is the biggest haul so far this year by the state police, he added.

“In the first raid, a 37-year-old suspect was nabbed at about 7pm on Dec 21 at Nibong Tebal town while he was driving a car and had stopped at a lane located along shop premises.

“During the arrest, police seized 100 packet of drugs believe to be syabu worth RM4.68mil, ” he told a press conference at the state police headquarters on Saturday (Dec 26).

Comm Sahabudin said following an interrogation of the suspect, police raided a nearby location, raiding a shop used to store drugs.

In this raid, police found what is believed to be syabu, Ecstasy, heroin and ketamine worth RM21.19mil.

He added that police detained the second suspect at Nibong Tebal but found no drugs on him.

The first suspect, who is jobless, tested positive for amphetamine, methamphetamine and benzo, and has a record of three drug-related offences.

The second suspect, aged 43, works as an online seller, tested negative and has no priors.

The suspects were remanded for seven days starting Dec 23.

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