JOHOR BARU: Police have crippled an international drug trafficking syndicate that is managed by a married couple.
During the raid at a gated and guarded housing estate here, drugs worth about RM3mil were also seized.
State police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the couple – a local man and his Indonesian wife – was arrested at around 10.30pm last Tuesday, along with the male suspect’s alleged girlfriend, who is a local in her 30s.
“The terrace house was used as a transit point before distributing the drugs to overseas markets, namely the Riau Islands and Batam in Indonesia via sea routes.
“We also found 76 packets of drugs, suspected to be syabu, worth an estimated RM2.5mil.
“They weighed about 80kg and were packed in Chinese tea bags,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Comm Ab Rahaman said the couple, in their 40s and 30s, are not the masterminds behind the syndicate.
“Our intelligence indicates possible links to other drug cartels,” he said.
“This syndicate has been actively operating since April last year.
“The seized drugs can cater to some 400,000 users.”
Aside from drugs, four cars, two motorcycles, RM7,607 in ringgit and Indonesian rupiah, as well as gold bars worth about RM21,498, were also seized.
“Checks showed the couple has not registered their marriage in the country.
“The Indonesian woman has a valid travel document and frequently entered and exited Malaysia using a tourist visa,” he said.
Comm Ab Rahaman also said the man has nine previous criminal records while the local woman has six previous records.
He said two of the suspects tested positive for methamphetamine.
All three have been remanded to assist investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
The Indonesian woman is also being investigated under Section 6(3) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Comm Ab Rahaman said 17,242 individuals have been arrested so far this year for various drug-related offences, which also saw the seizure of 1.47 tonnes and 6,921.45 litres of drugs.
“The total drug haul is valued at RM125.88mil while seized assets came to RM12.92mil,” he said.
