SEREMBAN: The Customs Department has crippled a drug syndicate following the seizure of 638kg of cannabis buds worth RM62.5mil in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.
Department deputy director-general (enforcement and compliance) Siti Mang said the buds were seized during a raid on a double-storey house on Dec 2.
“This is the biggest haul of cannabis buds recorded by Customs this year. We believe the premises had been used to repack the drugs,” she told reporters at the Customs headquarters (narcotics) in Kampung Jijan near here.
Customs officers conducted a two-week surveillance before carrying out the operation. No arrests were made as the house was vacant during the raid.
“We believe those behind the illegal activity escaped upon realising the presence of my officers,” Siti said, adding that the drugs were hidden in 17 boxes.
The house is believed to have been rented by the syndicate since September.
The syndicate had also tried to trick the authorities by using a different packaging system to conceal the drugs.
“The boxes containing the drugs were declared as microfibre bedsheets and they are believed to be for export,” she said.
Also seized were a motorcycle, a vacuum and weighing equipment.
The case is being investigated under Section 39B(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Offenders can either be sentenced to death or jailed between 30 years and 40 years and given a minimum 12 strokes of the cane, upon conviction.
