ALOR SETAR: The Kedah Police Contingent Headquarters’ Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department foiled an attempt to distribute 112.43kg of cannabis worth an estimated RM4.04mil on Oct 29.
Kedah Police Chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said in a special operation with assistance from the Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department’s Highway Patrol Unit and the Penang Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department, police intercepted a Toyota Vellfire at 2.30 pm on that day along the North-South Expressway near the Sungai Dua Toll Plaza in Penang.
"A 24-year-old local man was arrested, and further inspection of the vehicle’s rear compartment led to the discovery of four large boxes wrapped in black plastic, each containing 51 transparent plastic packets filled with cannabis flowers.
"The suspect had rented the vehicle before driving to Chuping, Perlis. Upon arrival, three members of the syndicate took the vehicle and left the suspect in Chuping, before returning the vehicle, now containing the drugs, to him," he told a press conference at the Kedah Contingent Police Headquarters here today.
He said the syndicate, comprising five individuals, had been operating since early October in the northern region, particularly in Penang, obtaining cannabis supplies through hidden trails in Chuping before the drugs were believed to be sent to Kuala Lumpur.
"If these drugs had reached the market, they could have been used by 224,874 users. Interrogations also revealed that the suspect, a native of Seberang Perai, Penang, with eight previous criminal records related to gambling, acted as the 'transporter' and was paid RM18,500 for his role.
"The suspect has been remanded for seven days until this Wednesday for further investigation at the North Seberang Perai District Police Headquarters lock-up in Penang.
"The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act (DDA) 1952. Police are tracking down the remaining syndicate members believed to still be at large," he said.
In a separate case, Adzli said a team from the Kubang Pasu District Police Headquarters Narcotics Criminal Investigation Division arrested a 59-year-old man and seized 15.5kg of cannabis worth RM48,050 in a raid on a house in Pida 6, Ayer Hitam on Oct 29.
"An inspection outside the suspect’s house uncovered a plastic barrel containing eight transparent plastic packages of cannabis.
"Preliminary investigations found that all the drugs, brought from Satun, Thailand via sea routes, were handed over by a man to the suspect for temporary storage.
"Further investigation led to the arrest of a man believed to be the mastermind of the syndicate in Arau, Perlis, on the same day, and 3.3kg of cannabis was also seized.
"The suspect has been remanded for six days until tomorrow to facilitate investigations,” he said. - Bernama
