JOHOR BARU: More than RM11mil worth of drugs were seized by police in a raid at a gated residential area in Taman Bukit Indah, near Iskandar Puteri.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said a 55-year-old man was arrested during the operation which was conducted on Monday and Tuesday.
“Over 115kg of various drugs were found at the terrace house. Initial investigations revealed that the suspect worked as a storekeeper at the premises, which was used as a storage and processing site,” he said at a press conference yesterday.
Among the seized narcotics were 25.2kg of ecstasy pills, 23.1kg of syabu, 22.4kg of MDMA, 13.4kg of ketamine, 11.5kg of ecstasy powder and 19.4kg of Erimin-5 pills – enough to supply more than 440,000 addicts.
“We believe this syndicate, active since July, sourced its supply locally. Police are in the midst of tracking down other members of the group,” he said.
The suspect, who has previous records but tested negative for drugs, has been remanded until Nov 10 to assist in investigations under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Separately, Comm Ab Rahaman said police have received four more reports over the pollution incident in Sungai Johor, near Kampung Orang Asli Sayong Pinang in Kota Tinggi, bringing the total to seven.
Big haul: Comm Ab Rahaman (second from left) and other police personnel showing the seized drugs during a press conference held at the state police headquarters in Johor Baru. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
The additional reports were lodged by a mine owner and three affected Orang Asli villagers following the incident last Friday.
Previously, three reports were lodged, including by Johor’s water operator Ranhill SAJ Sdn Bhd and two villagers.
Comm Ab Rahaman said the case is being investigated by the Environment Department and the National Water Services Commission, while police continue to monitor the situation to ensure there are no unexpected disruptions or public safety issues.
“Ranhill SAJ is also conducting its own internal investigation,” he said.
He confirmed that the sand mining company involved holds a valid extraction permit issued by the Kota Tinggi District Land and Mines Office.
“I cannot comment further, but the company has an authorised permit to extract sand. The licence is legal,” he said.
It was reported that three Orang Asli villages – Kampung Orang Asli Sayong Pinang, Kampung Orang Asli Pasir Intan and Kampung Orang Asli Kempas Menang – were affected by the pollution, believed to have occurred when a sand-washing pond burst, causing sediment to contaminate Sungai Johor.
The incident disrupted the livelihoods of about 150 fishermen along the upper part of the river and affected raw water supply to about 1.8 million people, or 455,757 account holders, across four districts – Johor Baru, Kulai, Pontian and Kota Tinggi.
On Sunday, state works, transportation, infrastructure and communications committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said the mining company’s extractive material permit had been temporarily suspended pending investigations.
