IPOH: Police have arrested two men for suspected drug trafficking and seized 13.7kg of ganja in raids under Ops Tapis, says the Perak deputy police chief.
According to Deputy Comm Mohammad Azlin Sadari, this was among the larger hauls in the statewide anti-drug operation from Monday to Wednesday (Oct 13 to 15), which saw a total of 413 suspects hauled in for various narcotics offences.
He said the first suspect in the ganja seizure, a 34-year-old, was arrested at a house in Taman Damai, Simpang, at about 1pm on Wednesday.
“A search of the premises found 14 transparent plastic packets containing suspected ganja weighing 13,655g.
"Following the arrest, a 45-year-old man was arrested at a house in Kampung Pinang, Kamunting, and 10.7g of ganja was seized," he told a press conference at the Pasir Putih police station here on Friday (Oct 17).
He said that the seized drugs had an estimated value of RM37,700.
"We believe they were meant for distribution in northern Perak," he said, adding that the suspects are believed to have been active since February.
"The first case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 while the second case is being probed under Section 6 of the same Act," he added.
DCP Azlin said both suspects tested positive for THC, a psychoactive compound in ganja.
"Background checks revealed that the first suspect had no criminal record, while the second had three previous offences on his record," he said, adding that the police also seized a motorcycle worth RM3,000 during the operation.
In another case, DCP Azlin said a 43-year-old man was arrested with drugs in a hut in Kampung Ara Payung, Batu Gajah, at about 4pm on Wednesday.
He said three packets of heroin weighing 2.3kg and one packet containing 0.6g of methamphetamine, worth about RM22,917, were found.
He added that the case is also being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
"The man tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine and has two prior offences on his record," he added.
DCP Azlin said the 413 people arrested during Ops Tapis comprised 399 men and 14 women aged 18 to 65.
"We detained 53 suspects for drug trafficking and 128 for drug possession, while 224 were addicts investigated under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
"Three were held under the Dangerous Drugs (Special Preventive Measures) Act 1985 and five wanted persons were also arrested.
"We identified five hardcore addicts who will be charged under Section 39C of the Dangerous Drugs Act.
"The operation was aimed at crippling drug distribution and abuse activities across Perak, focusing on known hotspots such as Felda and Felcra schemes, private plantations, flats and fishermen’s jetties," he added.
