GEORGE TOWN: Two cousins have been arrested here with 52kg of ganja worth over RM163,000.
George Town OCPD Asst Comm Razlam Ab Hamid said they were caught during a statewide anti-drug operation conducted by the Narcotics Crime Investigation Department (NCID).
"The men, aged 18 and 28, were caught at 8.38pm on Aug 8 at a parking lot in Jalan Perak.
"They were seen loading a brown box with Thai words into a vehicle.
"When the box was opened it was found to contain 20 compressed blocks of leaves, believed to be ganja, wrapped individually in transparent plastic.
"The drugs in the box weighed 21kg and were worth RM65,227," he told a press conference at the North-East District police headquarters here on Tuesday (Aug 13).
ACP Razlam said a further check of a four-wheel drive at the location led to the discovery of two more boxes containing 30 similar blocks, weighing 31.5kg and worth RM97,820.
"The local suspects are cousins with the older one working as an electrical technician, while the younger one works with him.
"The 18-year-old suspect tested positive for drugs and has two narcotics offences on his record.
"The other suspect tested negative and has no priors.
"Based on our investigation, they have been actively distributing drugs since March," he said.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952, which carries the death penalty or life imprisonment upon conviction.
